NORTHERN IRELAND

Billing

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average cost to her Department was of processing the payment of an invoice in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of invoices settled in that period her Department paid (a) electronically and (b) by cheque.

Theresa Villiers: My Department does not hold information on the cost of processing the payment of invoices.
	During the 2012-13 financial year, a total of 7,652 invoices were processed and paid. 7,409 (97%) of these were paid electronically. The remaining 243 (3%) were paid by cheque.

Cost-Effectiveness

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what areas of her departmental budget she has identified as suitable for efficiency savings.

Theresa Villiers: My Department is committed to the savings plans set out by Government. As part of delivering these savings, the Department will review all aspects of expenditure to ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

Internet

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the ease of access of her Department's on-line records.

Theresa Villiers: The official records of my Department are not hosted on-line. Departmental records are maintained via internal systems until they are transferred to the National Archives (TNA) in accordance with the Public Records Act (1967). This legislation determines that all records are held in the Department until their transfer to TNA for release to the public. My Department is working with TNA to ensure that historic electronic records will be transferred in a format accessible to the public.
	For internal purposes, an Electronic Document and Records Management System (EDRMS) is used to manage records. My Department regularly reviews the suitability of its records management systems and procedures to ensure access and usage continue to be efficient, appropriate and secure.

Investment

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will take steps to encourage investment in Northern Ireland by firms located in other parts of the UK.

Theresa Villiers: I take every opportunity to present Northern Ireland as a location that is open for business and one that offers attractive investment opportunities. While his party colleague, the Northern Ireland Executive Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has the ministerial responsibility for promoting investment into Northern Ireland, I and my officials work closely with her, DETI and InvestNI wherever possible.

Investment

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will discuss with the Chancellor of the Exchequer the feasibility of introducing tax incentives for companies which wish to expand into Northern Ireland.

Theresa Villiers: As set out in the joint economic package for Northern Ireland launched by the Prime Minister and the First and Deputy First Ministers on 14 June, the Government recognise that there is a need to give careful consideration to the potential to devolve additional fiscal powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
	Following evaluation and analysis, recommendations on the devolution of further fiscal powers will be put to Government Ministers in advance of the 2014 autumn statement.

Offenders

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many offenders were intercepted by officers at Northern Ireland sea ports last year.

Michael Penning: Between April 2012 and March 2013, 122 immigration offenders were detected at Northern Ireland sea ports. We do not hold information on other offences in the form sought.

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assistance her Department offers to encourage intelligence sharing and co-operation between the Garda Siochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Theresa Villiers: The PSNI and An Garda Siochána work very closely together on a wide range of policing and security issues. This includes tackling the threats posed by terrorism and criminality. I am in regular contact with the Irish Justice Minister, Alan Shatter, and our officials work together on issues of mutual interest. I know also that the Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan, speaks regularly to the Chief Constable and that they have repeatedly emphasised the value of the close co-operation between the two police forces.

Press: Subscriptions

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much her Department spent on newspapers, periodicals and trade publications in the last 12 months.

Theresa Villiers: During the period June 2012 to May 2013, my Department spent £29,193 on newspapers and periodicals. There were no costs incurred on trade publications.

Serco

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much her Department currently spends on contracts with Serco; and how much was spent in each year since 2008.

Theresa Villiers: My Department does not hold any contracts with Serco.

Sick Leave

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many days on average staff of her Department in each pay grade were absent from work as a result of ill health in each of the last 12 months.

Theresa Villiers: The average working days lost through sick absence by grade for the 12-month period 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012, as reported to the Cabinet Office, are as follows:
	
		
			  Working days 
			 SCS 0 
			 Band A 6.8 
			 Band B 1.9 
			 Band C 0.8 
			 Band D 3.7 
			 Band E 4.9 
			 Band F 16.8 
		
	
	The total average working days lost across my Department was 4.1. The average reported figure for the civil service was 7.7.
	Figures by month for the last 12 months are not available and to provide them would incur disproportionate costs.

Staff

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much her Department spent on (a) recruitment agency fees, (b) outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff and (c) staff training in each of the last 12 months.

Theresa Villiers: During the last 12 months, expenditure by my Department in these areas was as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			 (a) Recruitment agency fees  
			 August 2012 1,800 
			 April 2013 210 
		
	
	
		
			 (b) Outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff 0 
			   
			 (c) Staff training  
			 2012  
			 June 290 
			 July 2,257 
			 August 1,240 
			 September 0 
			 October 2,048 
			 November 2,339 
			 December 1,034 
			   
			 2013  
			 January 3,767 
			 February 375 
			 March 13,178 
			 April 3,412 
			 May 5,508

Terrorism

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of the investigation into the incident at McGurk's bar has been to date; and when such investigations are expected to be finalised.

Theresa Villiers: Investigations into the bombing of McGurk's bar are an operational matter for the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Vacancies

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what her Department's vacancy rate was in 2012-13; and what vacancy rate has been assumed for 2013-14.

Theresa Villiers: My Department does not hold this information. Staffing levels are kept under constant review and posts are filled when there is a sound business case for doing so.

WALES

Billing

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the average cost to his Department was of processing the payment of an invoice in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of invoices settled in that period his Department paid (a) electronically and (b) by cheque.

Stephen Crabb: The average cost to the Wales Office of processing a payment of an invoice is £5.19. The Wales Office settled 299 invoices in the period April to June 2013, of which 99.7% were paid electronically and 0.3% by cheque.

Cybercrime

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the effect of cyber crime on the Welsh economy.

David Jones: An accurate figure on the cost of cyber crime to Wales is extremely difficult to determine but the Detica “Cost of Cyber Crime” report, published in February 2011 in partnership with the Office of Cyber Security and Information Assurance in the Cabinet Office, estimates the cost of cyber crime to the UK to be as much as £27 billion per annum.
	The Government have committed £650 million over four years to the National Cyber Security Programme to support economic prosperity, protect national security and safeguard the public's way of life by building a more trusted and resilient digital environment.

MITIE Group

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spends on contracts with MITIE; and how much was spent on contracts with MITIE in each year since 2008.

Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office uses the buying power of larger Government Departments to procure services. We use the services of MITIE under a contract with the Ministry of Justice, which began in February 2012. The Wales Office paid MITIE £673,427 in 2012-13.

Mobile Phones

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which companies supply (a) mobile telephones and (b) mobile data services to his Department.

Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office is provided with mobile telephone and mobile data services by Vodafone and Orange. These services are provided through contracts supplied by the Ministry of Justice.

National Assembly for Wales

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received on renaming the National Assembly of Wales the Parliament of Wales.

David Jones: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant) on 15 May 2013, Official Report, columns 625-26.

Press: Subscriptions

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on newspapers, periodicals and trade publications in the last 12 months.

Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office spent £7,699.73 on newspapers and periodicals in financial year 2012-13. From May 2013, as part of the departmental efficiency savings, all paid-for newspapers have been cancelled in our London and Cardiff offices.

SCOTLAND

Mobile Phones

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which companies supply (a) mobile telephones and (b) mobile data services to his Department.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office makes use of a Government framework contract with Vodafone for mobile telephone and data services.

Overseas Aid

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which projects administered by the Scottish Government are UK Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) attributable; what the total value of the Scottish Government's contribution to UK ODA was in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; and what the value of that contribution will be in 2013.

David Mundell: The total value of the Scottish Government contribution to UK official development assistance (ODA) was:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 (a) 2010 9 
			 (b) 2011 10 
			 (c) 2012 10 
		
	
	In 2013, there is a planned spend of £10 million.
	Details of the specific projects administered by the Scottish Government, which are attributable to UK ODA, are available from the Scottish Government.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Airlines: Databases

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance her Department issues to airlines on the collection of flight passenger data.

Mark Harper: Border Force provides formal notification to aviation carriers of the UK's legislative requirements for the provision of advance passenger data by the service of the IS 72 form, under the Immigration Act 1971 Requirement for Passenger, Crew and Service Information.
	Border Force works closely with the airline industry to ensure that they understand their duty to provide passenger data. As part of this engagement, guidance is made available to the carriers, outlining the relevant laws.
	Border Force also provides a carrier account management service so that every carrier operating to the UK has a dedicated point of contact if further advice is required.
	Further information on the work of Border Force is also provided on the Gov.uk website, which airlines can refer to.

Airwave Service

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for the renewal of the Airwave emergency services telecommunications contract; and what assessment she has made of the role of voice communication in future such contracts.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 27 June 2013
	Contracts between the three emergency services and Airwave Services Ltd expire between 2016 and 2020. The Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme has been established to find a cost-effective replacement that delivers critical voice and broadband data services to the emergency services and other public safety users. The programme is keen to exploit the next generation of mobile technology (4G LTE), enhanced with public safety features. The programme aims to transition users to the new solution, called the Emergency Services Network, at or soon after contract expiry, minimising the need for lengthy contract extensions.
	The need for critical voice communication remains high on the users list of requirements.

Asylum

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2013, Official Report, columns 595-6W on asylum, if she will provide the relevant figures for the Intake key performance indicator from 2010 to 2013.

Mark Harper: Statistics within the 15 key performance indicators (KPIs) cover financial years, and are published annually in August. As such, the 2012-13 KPI is not available. The following link provides data from the 2010-11 and 2011-12 KPI reports:
	http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/further-key-data/
	The report highlights:
	2010-11 (18,378)
	2011-12 (19,778)
	Calendar year intake figures are also available, see following link:
	2010 (17,916)
	2011 (19,865)
	2012 (21,785)
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tables-for-immigration-statistics-january-to-march-2013
	Intake figures for the 2013 calendar year will be available in the early months of 2014.

Bedfordshire Police

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many police community support officers Bedfordshire police is projected to have by the end of (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15;
	(2)  how many police officers of each rank Bedfordshire police is projected to have by the end of (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15;
	(3)  how many (a) police officers of each rank, (b) police community support officers and (c) police staff there were in Bedfordshire police force area in each year from 2010.

Damian Green: holding answer 24 June 2013
	The number of police officers and police community support officers in Bedfordshire police, projected to have by the end of 2013-14 and 2014-15 are shown in table A. These figures are published on HMIC's website in the data supporting the “Policing in Austerity: one year on” report (July 2012). Figures are budgeted full-time equivalent (FTE). The data on police officers are not broken down by rank.
	The number of police officers (by rank), police community support officers and police staff (FTE), that were in Bedfordshire police force as at 31 March 2010 to 2012 have been provided in table B.
	
		
			 Number of police officers and police community support officers in Bedfordshire police, projected to have by the end of 2013-14 and 2014-15(1,2) 
			  March 2014 March 2015 
			 Police officers 1,148 1,124 
			 Police community support officers 108 88 
			 (1) These figures are published on HMIC's website in the data supporting the “Policing in Austerity: one year on” report (July 2012). (2) Figures are budgeted full-time equivalent (FTE). 
		
	
	
		
			 Number of police officers (by rank), police community support officers and police staff that were in Bedfordshire police force area as at 31 March 2010-12(1) 
			  2010 2011 2012 
			 Police officers    
			 ACPO 4 4 3 
			 Chief Superintendent 5 4 4 
			 Superintendent 12 11 11 
			 Chief Inspector 20 21 19 
			 Inspector 64 60 57 
			 Sergeant 179 191 203 
			 Constable 962 923 860 
			     
			 Police community support officers 116 125 112 
			     
			 Police staff 826 788 724 
			 (1) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Source: Home Office annual data requirement.

British Nationality

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason the constituents involved in Home Office case ref: A1487760 have had to wait over 12 months for their British citizenship application to progress; and when the constituents of the hon. Member for West Lancashire will receive a full response to their application.

Mark Harper: In order to determine a naturalisation application mandatory good character checks must be completed. As soon as the outstanding inquiries on this application are finalised a decision will be made and the applicant notified.

Human Trafficking

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the outcome of the work of the joint investigation between Sweden and the UK dealing with human trafficking is.

Mark Harper: I am aware of one recent joint investigation, between the Swedish authorities and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, into human trafficking. Responsibility for justice matters in Northern Ireland is devolved to the Northern Ireland Department of Justice.

Human Trafficking

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions for human trafficking there have been due to the co-operation between the UK and Sweden in each of the last five years.

Mark Harper: Data on human trafficking convictions in the UK do not record where these have been the result of international co-operation.
	Information on convictions overseas for human trafficking where the UK has supported joint investigations is not recorded centrally.

Human Trafficking

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons of each nationality have been convicted of offences of human trafficking in each of the last three years; whether any assets of such persons have been seized in consequence (a) in the UK and (b) overseas; and how much in assets has been so seized.

Mark Harper: Information on the nationality of individuals convicted of human trafficking offences is not collected centrally.
	The value of confiscation orders enforced against those convicted for human trafficking offences in England and Wales in each of the last three years as recorded on the Joint Asset Recovery Database, is as follows:
	
		
			  Total value of confiscation orders enforced (£) 
			 2010-11 895,154.31 
			 2011-12 196,992.48 
			 2012-13 995,035.92 
		
	
	A human trafficker may as an alternative be charged and prosecuted for a different offence, such as prostitution or money laundering, which could incur a confiscation order and is not reflected in the information above.
	The Joint Asset Recovery Database is a live system that is continually being updated and the figures provided may not match those given in previous answers.

Human Trafficking

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Romanian children have been identified in London as a victim of child trafficking; and how many such children have been taken to a place of safety in each of the last three years.

Mark Harper: In the period 1 January 2010 to 26 June 2013 10 Romanian minors were referred to the National Referral Mechanism where the location presented was recorded as London.
	Trafficked children who require protection and support come into the care of local authorities who have a statutory duty to ensure they safeguard and promote the welfare of all children under Section 11 of the Children Act 2004, regardless of their immigration status or nationality.

Human Trafficking Ministerial Group

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the last meeting of the inter-departmental ministerial group on human trafficking was; what matters were considered at this meeting; and which ministerial invitees (a) attended and (b) did not attend.

Mark Harper: The inter-departmental ministerial group on human trafficking met on 17 June 2013.
	The meeting considered current trends in human trafficking, a priority country analysis on Albania and an update on work to strengthen data collection following the last report of the inter-departmental ministerial group.
	A list of invitees and attendees is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Meeting date: 17 June 2013 
			 Name Title 
			 Attendees  
			 Mark Harper MP Minister for Immigration (Chair) 
			 Oliver Heald QC MP Solicitor-General 
			 Rt Hon David Mundell MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland 
			 Baroness Randerson Wales Office, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State 
			 Jo Swinson MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment relations, consumer and postal affairs 
			 David Ford MLA Minister of Justice, Northern Ireland Executive 
			 Liam Vernon UK Human Trafficking Centre 
			   
			 Apologies  
			 Helen Grant MP(1) Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Victims and the Courts and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities 
			 Kenny MacAskill MSP(1) Cabinet Secretary for Justice 
			 Lesley Griffiths AM(1) Minister for Local Government and Government Business 
			 Edward Timpson MP(1) Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families 
			 Baroness Hanham CBE(1) Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
			 Anna Soubry MP(1) Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health 
			 Hugo Swire MP(1) Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office 
			 Lynne Featherstone MP(1) Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development 
			 Mark Hoban MP(1) Minister of State for Employment, Department for Work and Pensions 
			 Jennie Granger Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs 
			 (1) Indicates where a Minister was represented by an official.

Human Trafficking: Northern Ireland

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the extent of human trafficking in Northern Ireland.

Mark Harper: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 17 June 2013, Official Report, columns 477-78.

Immigrants: Pregnant Women

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what recent discussions her Department has had with the UK Border Agency on the collection of information regarding the detention of pregnant women for immigration purposes;
	(2)  what the period of detention was for each pregnant woman detained for immigration purposes (a) in 2010, (b) in 2011, (c) in 2012 and (d) on 1 June 2013;
	(3)  how many pregnant women were detained for immigration purposes (a) in 2010, (b) in 2011, (c) in 2012 and (d) on 1 June 2013.

Mark Harper: There have been no recent discussions on the collection of information regarding the detention of pregnant women for immigration purposes.
	Health care assessments are carried out on all persons entering detention, but it is for each individual to decide what information they divulge about any medical condition. If a pregnant woman chooses to inform removal centre health care staff of her condition, the detail would be held on her medical file which is confidential between patient and doctor. The Home Office does not hold such information centrally and does not seek permission for disclosure.
	Information on the number of pregnant women detained for immigration purposes and their length of detention could be obtained by checking individual records only at disproportionate costs.

Immigrants: Pregnant Women

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many pregnant woman have been assessed under the fast-track procedure of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal since the inception of that procedure.

Mark Harper: Information on how many pregnant women have been assessed under the fast-track procedure is only held at the level of paper case files or within the notes section of the Home Office Case Information Database (CID). Such data are not aggregated in national reporting systems, which would mean this question could only be answered through a disproportionately expensive manual case-by-case search to collate the data.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when her Department plans to respond the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay's correspondence of 12 March, 24 April and 10 June 2013 regarding a constituent, Miss Njovana.

Mark Harper: holding answer 27 June 2013
	I wrote to the hon. Member on 28 June 2013.

Police National Computer

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the Police National Computer (PNC) records have been accessed by the Association of Chief Police Officers Criminal Records Office on behalf of each non-police agency in the last 12 months; and how many such checks undertaken on behalf of each such organisation resulted in a matching record on the PNC.

Damian Green: This information is not recorded centrally.

Police: Recruitment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the certificate of knowledge was introduced; and which police forces have introduced it to date.

Damian Green: The certificate in knowledge of policing was introduced by the National Policing Improvement Agency and Skills for Justice in April 2012. To date only the Metropolitan Police have introduced it.

Police: Recruitment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will collect data on police recruitment from black and ethnic minority communities and deprived neighbourhoods.

Damian Green: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 15 May 2013, Official Report, column 211W, and 10 June 2013, Official Report, column 67W. The Government do collect and publish data on black and minority ethnic representation in the police work force. We have no plans to collect data on recruitment from deprived neighbourhoods.

Salvation Army

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding her Department has provided to the Salvation Army to assist with persons subjected to human trafficking in (a) Northern Ireland, (b) England, (c) Scotland and (d) Wales in each of the last 12 months.

Mark Harper: The Salvation Army provides care and support for trafficking victims in England and Wales only. Through the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice, joint funding of £3 million was paid to the Salvation Army in 2012-13, and £3 million has been made available in 2013-14. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, victim care is devolved to the respective devolved Government and Executive.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the criteria are for allowing a covert speed enforcement camera to be used.

Damian Green: Deployment of speed cameras and their use in enforcement, whether overt or covert, are operational matters for local authorities and the police.

Suspicious Activity Reports: Tameside

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many charges have been brought from suspicious activity reports since May 2010 in Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council.

Damian Green: The information requested is not available from the police recorded crime data collected by the Home Office.

PRIME MINISTER

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Tom Watson: To ask the Prime Minister what appointments he has made to the role of his trade adviser in each year since 2010.

David Cameron: Since 2010 I have appointed the Right hon. Lord Brittan of Spennithorne, the Right hon. Lord Heseltine and the Right hon. Lord Young of Graffham to advise me on trade, enterprise and economic growth.
	I also refer the hon. Member to my speech on 12 November 2012 to the Lord Mayor's banquet in which I announced that the following people had been appointed as Trade Envoys:
	Right hon. Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC, Trade Envoy to South Africa;
	Baroness Morris of Bolton, Trade Envoy to Jordan, Kuwait, Palestinian Territories;
	Lord Puttnam of Queensgate, Trade Envoy to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia;
	Baroness Bonham Carter of Yarnbury, Trade Envoy to Mexico;
	Lord Risby of Haverhill, Trade Envoy to Algeria;
	Lord Sharman of Redlynch, Trade Envoy to Morocco;
	My hon. Friend the Member for Wealden (Charles Hendry), Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan;
	My hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Richard Graham), Trade Envoy to Indonesia.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the training provided by UK forces to recruits at the Afghan National Army Officer Academy will include training on (a) the law on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and (b) UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

Andrew Robathan: The core values and beliefs of our armed forces will be the foundation of any direction and guidance given to recruits at the Afghan National Army Officer Academy. These underline respect for human rights and obligations under international law. The course training package covers the issues surrounding women's rights within the “equality and diversity” component of the syllabus.

Afghanistan

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to prevent female recruits at the Afghan National Army Officer Academy from suffering sexual harassment.

Andrew Robathan: The Afghan National Army Officer Academy will provide ethical, values-based leadership training modelled on the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. The first female intake will be during the summer of 2014. While the course design is still being finalised, measures have already been incorporated into planning to help manage the risk of sexual or other harassment. These include: separate female accommodation, use of female coalition mentors, having one larger intake annually as opposed to three smaller intakes and conducting physical training apart from their male counterparts.

Animal Experiments

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding his Department has provided for the development of reduction, refinement and replacement alternatives to the use of animals in scientific procedures in each year between 2009 and 2012; how much of that funding has been provided to the National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence does not directly fund the development of reduction, refinement and replacement alternatives to the use of animals in scientific procedures. However, any work involving the use of animals in research needs to be licensed by the Home Office and considerations of reduction, refinement and replacement are explicitly made in every licence application.

Armed Forces

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make an estimate of the number of employees in each rank of the military from each National Readership Survey social grade.

Mark Francois: The information requested is not held by the Ministry of Defence. We do not assess service personnel against the National Readership Survey social grade system.

Armed Forces: Catering

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the maximum number of hours a chef in the armed forces is allowed to work (a) per day and (b) per week.

Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence is obliged to adhere to all employment legislation including Working Time Regulations (WTR) (1998) and any subsequent amendments to those regulations. Commanding officers are required to apply the regulations on a worldwide basis to all service personnel including chefs.
	Under normal routine activity the maximum weekly hours that can be worked are an average of 48 hours a week over a rolling 17-week period. Within that week personnel are entitled to a rest period of 11 consecutive hours between each working day and a 24-hour rest every seven days. Those whose daily working time exceeds six hours are entitled to an uninterrupted 20-minute break (extended to 30 minutes for under-18s); this should not be at the start or end of work.
	Regulation 18(2)(a) of the WTR provides an exemption for work characteristics which are peculiar to the regular armed forces that “inevitably conflict” with the regulations. Commanding officers must be able to show how the activity in question is both peculiar to the armed forces, and inevitably conflicts with the regulations. In practice, where the nature of the activity is such that it cannot be made to comply with the WTR without a detrimental effect on operational effectiveness, the exemption should apply. This includes the following activities:
	Operations (including military aid to the civil authorities, where it is not possible to conduct activities within the prescribed working time limits).
	Support of and preparation for operations.
	Exercises and training simulating operational conditions, including their support.
	Training (including exercises) aimed at causing fatigue and stress to prepare for or simulate an operational situation.
	Where work at sea or in the air is subject to the WTR and where it can be shown that adherence to normal working time limits would inevitably have an adverse impact upon operational effectiveness, the sea and air duties in question will be regarded as falling within the scope of the “inevitably conflicts” exemption of the WTR.

Armed Forces: Discharges

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on implementing the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant in respect of members of the armed forces from Commonwealth countries who are obliged to leave the armed forces on the grounds of medical discharge.

Mark Francois: holding answer 25 June 2013
	I can confirm that the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant extend to all those who serve in our armed forces. Commonwealth and Gurkha personnel subject to medical discharge are entitled to the same extensive range of recovery, resettlement and compensation provisions. In addition, for those who are medically discharged and choose to apply for settlement in the UK, the normal stipulation requiring four years completed service may be waived by the Home Office, depending on the circumstances of the case.

Armed Forces: Housing

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to provide additional funding for forces' accommodation in Staffordshire.

Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence will provide some 360 new service family accommodation properties and 651 single living accommodation bedspaces in Staffordshire by the summer of 2015.

Armed Forces: Housing

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has conducted a recent survey of the level of service families' satisfaction with the energy efficiency of service family accommodation properties.

Mark Francois: No such survey has been commissioned.
	However, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to improving the energy efficiency of all MOD homes, and considers energy efficiency measures when carrying out all construction or improvement works.
	In financial year 2012-13, 900 boilers in service families’ accommodation were upgraded and as part of the Government's contribution to the carbon emissions reduction target (CERT) over 12,000 properties benefited from improved loft insulation.

Armed Forces: Northern Ireland

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people from Northern Ireland have enlisted in the (a) Army, (b) Infantry, (c) Royal Navy and (d) Royal Air Force in each of the last five years.

Mark Francois: The information is not held in the format requested; however the following table gives details of those recruited from financial year 2008-09 through the recruitment offices in Northern Ireland, and gives an indication of Northern Irish recruitment into the naval service, Army and RAF.
	This information will however not provide a comprehensive picture of individuals recruited from Northern Ireland as recruits can join the services at any Careers Office irrespective of where they reside.
	
		
			  Financial year 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Naval services 46 49 39 39 46 
			 Army 294 327 259 301 267 
			 RAF 25 26 18 10 10 
		
	
	Of those enlisted in the Army it is not possible to identify how many of those subsequently mustered to the infantry.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people between the age of 16 and 18 were recruited to the (a) Army, (b) Navy and (c) Royal Air Force in each of the last 10 years.

Mark Francois: The following table shows the number of 16, 17 and 18-year-old recruits to the armed forces in the last 10 years.
	
		
			  Financial year 
			  2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 All Services 11,540 8,580 8,740 8,600 8,640 8,880 7,150 4,180 4.720 4,090 
			 Naval Service 1,750 1,520 1,560 1,440 1,370 1,420 1,120 600 340 430 
			 Army 8,170 6,320 6,840 6,800 6,410 6,030 5,120 3,340 4,100 3,440 
		
	
	
		
			 RAF 1,620 740 340 410 860 1,440 910 240 280 220 
			 Notes: 1. Intake is given for UK regular forces (including all trained and untrained personnel). Gurkhas, full-time reserve personnel and mobilised reservists are excluded. 2. Figures from 2002-03 to 2006-07 also contain intake from re-enlistments and rejoined reservists, so may not be entirely indicative of recruitment for these financial years. We are unable to disaggregate these figures. 3. Figures for Army for 2006-07 are for the then latest 12 months available; comprising data from 1 March 2006 to 28 February 2007. 4. Data have been rounded to the nearest 10. Numbers ending in '5' have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.

Armed Forces: Redundancy

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many redundancy letters in each tranche have been delivered to personnel stationed at (a) RAF Lossiemouth, (b) RAF Leuchars, (c) HMNB Clyde, (d) RM Condor, (e) Headquarters 2nd Division, (f) Headquarters 51 Brigade, (g) Redford Barracks, (h) Dreghorn Barracks, (i) Kinloss Barracks, (j) Fort George Barracks, (k) Glencorse Barracks, (l) Crombie Defence Munitions Centre, (m) Beith Defence Munitions Centre, (n) Glen Douglas Defence Munitions Centre, (o) HMS Gannet, (p) Royal Naval Armament Depot Coulport, (q) MOD Hebrides Ranges, (r) British Underwater Training and Evaluation Centre, (s) Loch Ewe Fuel Depot, (t) Garelochead Defence Fuel Depot, (u) HMS Caledonia, (v) Rosyth Defence Estate and (w) West Freugh Training Ranges. [Official Report, 11 September 2013, Vol. 567, c. 9MC.]

Mark Francois: The information requested about numbers of redundancy letters is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Number 
			 Location Tranche 1 Tranche 2 Tranche 3 
			 RAF Lossiemouth 40 50 0 
			 RAF Leuchars 30 20 — 
			 HMNB Clyde 20 — 0 
			 RM Condor 20 — 0 
			 HQ 2 Div 0 0 0 
			 HQ 51 Bde — 10 10 
			 Redford Barracks (Bks) — 10 30 
			 Dreghorn Bks — 20 30 
			 Kinloss Bks 70 20 70 
			 Fort George Bks — 10 30 
			 Glencorse Bks — 10 20 
			 Crombie Defence Munitions Centre (DMC) 0 0 0 
			 Beith DMC 0 0 0 
			 Glen Douglas DMC 0 0 0 
			 HMS Gannet 0 0 0 
			 RN Armament Depot Coulport 0 0 0 
			 MOD Hebrides Ranges 0 0 0 
			 British Underwater Training and Evaluation Centre 0 0 0 
			 Loch Ewe Fuel Depot (FD) 0 0 0 
			 Garelochead Defence FD 0 0 0 
			 HMS Caledonia — 0 0 
			 Rosyth Defence Estate 0 0 0 
			 West Freugh Training Ranges 0 0 0 
			 — = less than 5. Note: When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in “5” have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. 
		
	
	Neither the post nor the location in which individuals are serving is taken into account by armed forces redundancy selection boards. The selection of an individual for redundancy cannot be assumed to imply that the post they occupy on the date of notification is no longer required. In addition, service personnel move between posts and locations regularly, and the location at which they will be serving on their exit date may be different from that at which they were notified. For these reasons, neither the geographical distribution nor the units within which individuals were serving when notified for redundancy are a valid basis for assumptions about the longer-term disposition of future military posts.

Iran

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the value of money held by the Government following uncompleted arms sales to Iran in the 1970s; and in which account such money is held.

Philip Dunne: holding answer 24 June 2013
	Funds have been held on deposit in the Court Funds Office since 2002 for International Military Services (IMS), a private limited company for which the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), is “ex officio” the principal shareholder. In that capacity, the Secretary of State assessed and agreed the most recently audited company's financial statements, which includes provision for the potential liability to be paid by IMS to Iran.

Military Aid

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which projects administered by his Department were UK overseas development assistance (ODA) attributable; what the total value of his Department’s contribution to UK ODA was in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012; and what the value of that contribution will be in 2013.

Andrew Murrison: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold this information for 2010 as a reporting requirement was introduced at the strategic defence and security review in 2010.
	For 2011, the MOD reported an estimate of activity eligible to be counted as official development assistance (ODA). The MOD reported that approximately £6.85 million was spent on activities which met the definition of ODA. £2 million of this was from the conflict pool, with the balance of £4.85 million from MOD’s own budget.
	As ODA is reported by calendar year, these are the latest available data. Figures for 2012 will be published on the UK Government website later this year as part of the wider UK ODA statistics. Reporting for calendar year 2013 will be available in autumn 2014.

Military Bands

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2013, Official Report, columns 720-1W, on military bands, if he will make it his policy that the responses of (a) the Prime Minister and (b) the Chancellor of the Exchequer of Wednesday 26 June 2013 to oral questions from the hon. Member for Colchester be sent to those undertaking a review of Army bands as part of the Future Music re-organisation programme.

Mark Francois: I can assure you that, as my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated in the House on 26 June 2013, Official Report, columns 300 and 327 respectively, there is no intention to further reduce the number of personnel below the levels previously announced.
	Where it is appropriate, those responsible for making manning proposals across the Army are made aware of comments and responses given by right hon. and hon. Members in the House.

Mobile Phones

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which companies supply (a) mobile telephones and (b) mobile data services to his Department.

Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 November 2012, Official Report, columns 522-23W.

Navy: Catering

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken to tackle the current shortage of chefs in the Royal Navy.

Mark Francois: The Royal Navy does not have a shortage of chefs.

Procurement

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  which contracts his Department is (a) re-negotiating and (b) intending to re-negotiate; and how much each such re-negotiation is anticipated to save;
	(2)  whether each company whose contracts his Department are currently re-negotiating or intends to re-negotiate have been informed to date.

Philip Dunne: Ministry of Defence contracts are negotiated and amended as necessary during the course of normal business. I am withholding the information as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests. The companies will be contacted as necessary.

Procurement

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which contracts his Department has re-negotiated since May 2010; and how much each such re-negotiation has saved his Department.

Philip Dunne: Ministry of Defence (MOD) contracts are negotiated and amended as necessary during the course of normal business. In terms of which equipment contracts were renegotiated, I am withholding the information as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests. I can confirm that the MOD has achieved the overall savings target it was set as a result of the strategic defence and security review.

Public Transport

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the 10 most frequently undertaken journeys on domestic public transport by his Department's employees and contractors were in the last year; and how many such journeys were undertaken in that time;
	(2)  how much his Department spent on domestic public transport for its employees and contractors in each of the last three years.

Mark Francois: Service and civilian Ministry of Defence personnel are mandated to utilise the Defence Travel (DT) services when booking official (duty) travel. DT is part of the Central Government Travel Management Service which is provided under contract by the Hogg Robinson Group and provides a comprehensive booking service in both the UK and overseas.
	The 10 most frequent journeys recorded by DT services for duty travel within the UK in financial year 2012-13 are listed in the following table:
	
		
			 Journeys between these locations Mode of transport Number of journeys(1) 
			 Glasgow to Southampton Air 12,074 
			 Bristol to Glasgow Air 9,995 
			 Birmingham to George Best Belfast City Airport Air 9,441 
			 George Best Belfast City Airport to London Heathrow Air 8,255 
			 George Best Belfast City Airport to Southampton Air 7,496 
			 Bristol Parkway to London Underground Zone 1 Rail 6,938 
			 East Midlands to George Best Belfast City Airport Air 6,900 
			 Glasgow to London Heathrow Air 6,386 
			 Edinburgh to Southampton Air 6,205 
			 Andover to London Waterloo Rail 6,133 
			 (1) This is the number of single journeys between the two locations in either direction. A return journey is recorded as two single journeys. 
		
	
	The cost of duty travel journeys within the UK recorded by DT services for the last three full financial years is contained in the following table:
	
		
			 Financial year Total cost (£ million)(1) 
			 2012-13 32 
			 2011-12 34 
			 2010-11 33 
			 (1) Costs are rounded to the nearest £ million. 
		
	
	Within the UK, DT services cover duty travel by air and rail. Rail travel booked using rail warrants or season tickets and some other journeys (such as entitlements for travel for military leave) are exempt from the mandate to use the DT service. In addition not all travel arrangements by Ministry of Defence employed contractors are made through DT services.

Redundancy

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many civilian support staff in his Department are to be made redundant following decisions announced in Spending Round 2013, Cm 8639; and what the average payout for these redundancies is expected to be;
	(2)  with reference to Spending Round 2013, Cm 8639, what criteria will be used to decide on redundancies made to civilian staff in his Department.

Philip Hammond: There are no plans for redundancies as a result of the spending review. The reduction in civilian headcount will be made by limiting recruitment.

Service Personnel and Veterans Agency

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent in each constituent part of the UK by the Army Veteran Agency in each of the last five years.

Mark Francois: I have taken the Army Veteran Agency to mean the Veterans Welfare Service (VWS), which is part of the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency. The running costs for VWS are provided in the following table:
	
		
			 Financial year (FY)(1) £ million 
			 2012-13 4.332 
			 2011-12 3.794 
			 2010-11 4.318 
			 2009-10 4.824 
			 2008-09 3.801 
			 (1) Costs are running costs in the last five financial years excluding the corporate function costs: rent and rates, general IT and communications, management supports, secretariat, helpline, finance and media. 
		
	
	The running costs for each UK country for the VWS are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Sick Leave

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many days on average staff of his Department in each pay grade were absent from work as a result of ill health in each of the last 12 months.

Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) maintains a robust approach to managing civilian absence as a result of sickness. Occupational health and well-being advice and support is available to all employees and line managers.
	Sickness absence rates by average working days lost (AWDL) per full-time equivalent (FTE) employee in the MOD for the 12 months ending 31 March 2013 are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Grade (Equivalent)(3) Average working days lost (FTE)1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013(1,2) 
			 Administrative Assistant 10.87 
			 Administrative Officer 9.46 
			 Executive Officer 7.99 
		
	
	
		
			 Higher Executive Officer 5.78 
			 Senior Executive Officer 4.81 
			 Grade 7 3.93 
			 Grade 6 2.97 
			 Senior Civil Service 1.06 
			 Unknown grade(4) 7.72 
			 (1) Data presented reflect the current Cabinet Office definition, setting a maximum absence of 225 days per person, and exclude data for weekends, annual leave and bank holidays. Excludes personnel on zero pay. (2) Average working days lost per FTE are calculated by dividing the total working days lost by a weighted average of the 1st of the month strengths for the period (the strengths at the start and end month receiving a weighting of 0.5 and the strengths of the interim months a weighting of 1). (3) Equivalent civil service grades have been used to amalgamate MOD non-industrial, industrial and trading fund grades, according to Cabinet Office definitions. (4) Unknown grade is a temporary assignment, due to the grade field for new recruits and newly promoted personnel being updated at a later point than their main personnel record. As such the AWDL figure for this category is liable to considerable variability. 
		
	
	A breakdown of the average working days lost per month is not available as the Department calculates the figure over a rolling 12-month period to take account of any seasonality.
	Grade equivalent rates, as used in Cabinet Office absence reporting, include non-industrial, industrial and trading fund personnel, but exclude Royal Fleet Auxiliary and locally engaged civilians for whom sickness absence data are not readily available.

Territorial Army: Northern Ireland

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people in the Territorial Army were serving in Northern Ireland in each year since 2003.

Mark Francois: Records of the number of Territorial Army personnel from across the UK who may have been deployed to Northern Ireland prior to the culmination of Operation Banner are not held centrally.
	However, the following table represents the approximate number of personnel belonging to Territorial Army units based in Northern Ireland each year from 2003. Figures include those who are on the strength of TA units in Northern Ireland but are deployed on operations abroad.
	
		
			  TA numbers 
			 2003 1,620 
			 2004 1,600 
			 2005 1,500 
			 2006 1,600 
			 2007 1,680 
			 2008 1,890 
			 2009 2,060 
			 2010 1,670 
			 2011 1,590 
			 2012 1,800 
			 2013 1,800 
		
	
	Figures represent an approximation of the number of TA volunteers serving in NI based units.
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Due to a difference in data capture, figures for 2003-07 represent approximate strength as at 1 January each year. Figures for 2008-13 represent approximate strength as at 1 April each year.
	The accuracy of the data in years 2007-09 cannot be guaranteed due to the transfer of data to Joint Personnel Administration from legacy systems during this time.

Trafalgar Class Submarines

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current scheduled end of service date is of each Trafalgar class submarine.

Philip Dunne: On present plans, the remaining Trafalgar class submarines will be withdrawn from service as follows:
	
		
			  End of service date 
			 HMS Tireless 2014 
			 HMS Torbay 2017 
			 HMS Trenchant 2019 
			 HMS Talent 2021 
			 HMS Triumph 2022

Vacancies

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's vacancy rate was in 2012-13; and what vacancy rate has been assumed for 2013-14.

Mark Francois: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 13 November 2012, Official Report, column 172W. There has been no change.

Veterans: Merseyside

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces veterans currently reside in Merseyside.

Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold information on the total number of armed forces veterans residing in Merseyside.
	However, the following table provides details of the number of veterans residing in Merseyside who are in receipt of war pension scheme (WPS), armed forces compensation scheme (AFCS) and armed forces pension scheme (AFPS) payments.
	
		
			  As at Recipients(1) 
			 War Pension 31 March 2013 4,465 
			 Armed Forces Compensation 30 September 2012 105 
			 Armed Forces Pension 12 July 2011 3,805 
			 (1 )Latest figures for which WPS, AFCS and AFPS data are available. Note: In accordance with DASA's rounding policy, all figures of five or more have been rounded to the nearest five.

TREASURY

Debts

Heather Wheeler: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission a review of best practice and lending policy from the experience of debt waiver products in the US.

Greg Clark: The Government have no intention to commission such a review.

Economic and Monetary Union

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect of the euro zone crisis on economic growth; and what estimate he has made of the likely level of UK economic growth had the crisis not taken place.

Greg Clark: As set out in Budget 2013, the euro area sovereign debt crisis and subsequent recession have weighed heavily on the UK recovery. The euro area is a key market for UK exporters, accounting for 40% of the UK's exports of goods and services in 2012. As the Bank of England said in its May Inflation Report:
	“The main risks to the recovery continue to emanate from abroad.”

Empty Property: Coastal Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many empty banks there are in each of the principal seaside towns.

Sajid Javid: The Government do not collect these data.

Financial Services

Guto Bebb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 3 June 2013, Official Report, column 819W, on financial services, which parties connected to the Connaught Income Series 1 Fund are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Sajid Javid: At the time, the Financial Services Authority was responsible for the supervision of certain regulated activities by Tiuta plc, the parent company of the Tiuta Group.
	Other entities linked to the fund, including Connaught Asset Management and Tiuta International Ltd, were not subject to the regulatory oversight of the Financial Services Authority.
	The Financial Conduct Authority then took over the relevant supervisory responsibilities from the Financial Services Authority following the Financial Services Bill in April this year.

First-Time Buyers

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what help he is giving to first-time buyers.

Sajid Javid: The Help to Buy package of measures, announced at Budget 2013, will support first-time buyers and those looking to move up the housing ladder.
	The Help to Buy: equity loan scheme was launched on 1 April and has supported over 4,000 new build home reservations in its first two months. The Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee scheme will be available from January 2014.

Income Tax: Bury

David Nuttall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Bury North constituency no longer pay income tax as a result of increases in the personal income tax allowance since 2010.

David Gauke: By April 2013, the cumulative effect of the Government's increases in the personal allowance for those aged under 65 years (born after 5 April 1948 since 2013-14 tax year) since 2010-11 had taken 2.4 million people out of the income tax system while over 25 million individuals will have seen their income tax liability reduced.
	This estimate is based on the 2010-11 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected to 2013-14 using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2013 economic and fiscal outlook.
	Reliable estimates are not available at the parliamentary constituency level due to greater uncertainties in making projections for small geographical areas.

Medicine: Research

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the importance of maintaining support for medical research charities.

Danny Alexander: holding answer 25 June 2012
	The Chancellor is aware of the support currently provided to research charities but it would not be proper to pre-empt the outcomes of the spending review, which will be presented to the House on the 26 June, by commenting on the content of particular discussions.

Mortgages

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what support he plans to give to those who have been paying interest-only mortgages and are coming to the end of that agreement with a large lump sum payment to make.

Sajid Javid: The Financial Conduct Authority's review into interest-only mortgages, published in May, showed that most people have a strategy in place for repaying their interest-only mortgage.
	The review also identified where there might be gaps, for example around whether the repayment strategy is sufficient. The review gives lenders useful information and guidance for how to address this matter with their customers. This will help lenders and their customers to take early and effective action.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Jack Dromey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the oral answer from the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Feltham and Heston of 12 June 2013, Official Report, column 336, with which organisations or companies (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have met to discuss the mechanism that will be put in place to stop people using the Help to Buy Mortgage Guarantee Scheme to purchase a second home.

Sajid Javid: Treasury Ministers have met with a number of companies in the mortgage industry to discuss a wide number of issues such as the Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee scheme, including through the Home Finance Forum.

New Enterprise Allowance: Bury

David Nuttall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of businesses in Bury North constituency who will receive the £2,000 enterprise allowance.

David Gauke: Constituency level estimates of those likely to benefit from the employment allowance are not available. In total, up to 1.25 million employers will benefit from the allowance, with over 90% of this benefit going to small businesses with fewer than 50 employees.

Non-domestic Rates: Bury

David Nuttall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses in Bury North constituency have taken advantage of the doubling of small business rate relief since 2010.

Brandon Lewis: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.
	Data collected as at 31 December 2010 showed that in the Bury council area there were 1,846 hereditaments benefiting from the small business rate relief scheme. Of these 1,707 were paying the lower multiplier and receiving a discount and 139 were just paying the lower multiplier.
	Data collected earlier this year are currently being validated and will be published in the autumn. Data are collected at billing authority level; we do not collect data at constituency level.
	We estimate that approximately half a million business in England are benefiting, with approximately a third of a million paying no rates at all.

Public Expenditure: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Scottish Government on the forthcoming spending review.

Danny Alexander: Treasury Ministers and officials have regular discussions with the Scottish Government on a wide variety of topics. In addition, I chaired a Finance Minister Quadrilateral meeting in Belfast on 10 June to discuss issues relating to the forthcoming spending round.

Public Sector Debt

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has held (a) with his ministerial colleagues and (b) between his Department and the Charity Commission and related bodies about (i) the future of the National Fund and (ii) the possibility of its early application to reduce the national debt.

Sajid Javid: holding answer 24 June 2013
	The Charity Commission and Attorney-General's Office have been considering the National Fund's status and objects. As part of this process HMT officials have been approached for advice on potential indemnities and kept informed of key developments.

Social Security Benefits: Northern Ireland

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed welfare budget cap in Northern Ireland.

Sajid Javid: The welfare cap will improve spending control, support fiscal consolidation and ensure the welfare system remains affordable. If the Office for Budget Responsibility projects that spending will breach the cap in any year of the forecast horizon, the Government will need to bring forward a response—changing policy or explaining publicly why they judge that action is not appropriate. Although welfare policy is a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly, under the parity principle we would expect the Northern Ireland Executive to mirror any policy reforms introduced under this framework.

State Retirement Pensions

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of pensions triple lock on pensioners.

Sajid Javid: The Government believe that the basic state pension is the foundation of state support for older people. This is why triple lock was introduced, meaning that the basic state pension is increased each year by the highest of the growth in average earnings, inflation or 2.5%. The level of the full basic state pension is now £6.85 per week higher than if it had only been uprated by earnings since 2011-12. Because of the triple lock, the basic state pension now represents a higher share of average earnings than at any time since 1992.

Tax Allowances: Community Development

Chris White: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of investment qualified for Community Investment Tax Relief in each of the last five years.

David Gauke: The amount of investment qualifying for community investment tax relief in the last five years for which data are available is outlined in the following table. These data are held by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	
		
			  Amount of new investment (£ million) 
			 2007-08 9.5 
			 2008-09 7.7 
			 2009-10 26.6 
			 2010-11 9.4 
			 2011-12 1.8

Tax Allowances: Community Development

Chris White: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many community development finance institutions received community investment tax relief in each of the last five years.

David Gauke: Community development finance institutions do not receive community investment tax relief themselves. Rather, the relief is provided to the people and corporations who invest in these institutions. The number of community development finance institutions receiving CITR-qualifying investments in each of the past five years for which data is available is outlined in the following table. These data are held by the Department for Business, Information and Skills.
	
		
			  Number of CDFIs 
			 2007-08 11 
			 2008-09 8 
			 2009-10 8 
			 2010-11 5 
			 2011-12 4

Taxation: EU Nationals

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to prevent EU citizens who are (a) residents and (b) non-residents in the UK purchasing a second home to reduce tax liabilities.

Sajid Javid: The Government do not seek to prevent EU citizens buying second homes in the UK. But where they do so it is important that they should pay their fair share of tax. In Budget 2012 the Government announced three measures to promote the fair taxation of residential property in the UK:
	an increase in the rate of stamp duty land tax payable by a purchaser on properties costing more than £2 million from 5% to 7% and a special rate of 15% payable when a property costing more than £2 million is bought by a company rather than an individual;
	a new annual tax on enveloped dwellings, payable on UK residential properties valued at more than £2 million which are owned by companies or other “non-natural persons” and which—broadly—are not used for bona fide commercial purposes; and
	an extension of the charge to capital gains tax so that it is payable on gains on disposals of residential properties where the owner has paid the annual tax on enveloped dwellings.
	All these three measures apply equally to UK and non-UK residents.

Welfare Tax Credits: Cannock Chase

Aidan Burley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) people, (b) people in work and (c) families in Cannock Chase constituency are in receipt of tax credits.

Sajid Javid: The following table details the number of adults, in work adults and the number of families in receipt of tax credits (child tax credit and working tax credit) in Cannock Chase constituency as at April 2013.
	
		
			  Number (Thousand) 
			 Adults 11.9 
			 In work adults 6.8 
			 Families 7.8 
		
	
	An adult is defined as in work if they are eligible for working tax credit. In the case of a couple with children, the couple is required to work at least 24 hours a week with at least one adult required to work at least 16 hours. Lone parents are required to work at least 16 hours, although lone parents are still eligible for child tax credit if they work less than this.
	These figures do not take into account a small number of out of work families for whom an amount equivalent to tax credits is provided through Department for Work and Pensions benefits.
	The Government are committed to making work pay, and are rewarding work in a number of ways. The Government have raised the personal allowance to £9,440 and have announced a further increase to £10,000 from April 2014. The net effect of all personal allowance increases announced by this Government will be to remove 2.7 million low income individuals, under 65, out of income tax altogether from April 2014.
	The Government are also developing a new tax-free child care scheme to expand support for affordable child care to 2.5 million families, and introducing universal credit to make the benefits of work clearer and simpler, with the aim of offering a smooth transition into work and encouraging progression in work.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Empty Property: Retail Trade

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he has taken to prevent landlords from leaving retail units vacant.

Brandon Lewis: A property may be empty on account of various issues, not least lack of interest from a suitable tenant. Punitive measures to force landlords to lease their properties would not be effective in creating a sustainable high street and would risk interfering with fundamental private property rights.
	Government are introducing planning reforms which will encourage the effective use of underused and empty buildings. The new regulations which came in to force on 30 May enable the freer movement of use across town centre properties lifting many restrictions on the type of business which can use a property. This will make it easier for businesses to access property.
	The reforms also allow offices to change use to housing without the need for a planning application. Last year we increased the permitted development for flats created above shops. Together these reforms provide a substantial opportunity to bring more life into town centres and increase footfall.
	Empty property rate relief is time-limited so ultimately does deter landlords from leaving units vacant, though note that this applies to England only and separate arrangements may be in place in the devolved Administrations.

Energy Performance Certificates

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  if he will estimate the level of non-compliance with the requirement to (a) commission an energy performance certificate (EPC) for domestic properties listed for sale, taking into account the additional EPCs which would be expected to have been commissioned for the 30 per cent of listings which do not proceed to sale, (b) commission an EPC on domestic rental properties and (c) display a current Display Energy Certificate in public buildings of over 500 square metres; and what steps he plans to take to improve such compliance;
	(2)  what information his Department holds on how many fixed penalty notices have been issued by trading standards officers in respect of breaches of the Energy Performance and Buildings Directive regulations in the last 12 months.

Don Foster: Enforcement of the regulations is the responsibility of local authority trading standards. We do not collate the information requested. More broadly, we are seeking to reduce the burden of data reporting requirements on local government rather than increase it.
	We have issued and updated clear guidance on the requirements of the regulations.

Enterprise Zones

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many jobs have been (a) created and (b) safeguarded in each of the 24 enterprise zones since May 2010;
	(2)  how many business tenants are in place in each of the 24 enterprise zones.

Mark Prisk: Enterprise zones have created over 3,000 jobs since going live in April 2012. They have also generated 105,000 square metres on new commercial floorspace and secured almost £229 million of extra private sector investment.
	Enterprise zone policy is aimed at unlocking development on new sites to create jobs and business growth. We therefore do not monitor jobs safeguarded.
	We are aware of 126 new businesses being attracted to Enterprise zones since April 2012.

Families: Disadvantaged

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the cost of expanding the troubled families project.

Brandon Lewis: On Monday 24 June, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the right hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander), and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), announced £200 million of funding for 2015-16 for the expansion of the troubled families programme. This is intended to be the first of five years of investment. This information is outlined here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/news/massive-expansion-of-troubled-families-programme-announced

Families: Disadvantaged

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how his Department will fund the proposed expansion of the troubled families project.

Brandon Lewis: On Monday 24 June, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, announced £200 million of funding for 2015-16 for the expansion of the Troubled families programme. This is intended to be the first of five years of investment. This funding was drawn from the budgets of six Departments. Those Departments who stand to benefit the most from this approach have agreed to contribute to it.

Families: Disadvantaged

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total budget of the troubled families programme will be in 2015-16; how many families he expects to be helped by the programme in that year; and how many such families he expects to be entering the programme for the first time that year.

Brandon Lewis: On 24 June, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government announced £200 million of funding for 2015-16 for the expansion of the troubled families programme. This is intended to be the first of five years of investment.
	The detail of the delivery model, including the precise number of families to be helped in that year, will be developed in collaboration with local authorities and their partners over the coming year. Further details will be announced following this process.

Families: Disadvantaged

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average expenditure on a troubled family under the current programme has been to date; and what he expects the average expenditure on a troubled family to be under the new programme starting in 2015-16.

Brandon Lewis: Under both the current troubled families programme' and the expanded programme from 2015-16, the average expenditure on a troubled family will vary according to the types of interventions used by local authorities and the complexity of the families' needs. DCLG does not hold this information centrally.
	For the current troubled families programme, we expect further information on this issue to be gathered through our evaluation. Further information on this is available here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/news/study-to-assess-impact-of-troubled-families-work
	Further detail on the expanded programme is available here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/news/massive-expansion-of-troubled-families-programme-announced

Fire Extinguishers

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate the Government made of the cost to the public purse of introducing fire sprinklers into new domestic properties in (a) 2002 and (b) 2013.

Don Foster: The Government made no estimate of the cost to the public purse of introducing fire sprinklers into new domestic properties in (a) 2002 and (b) 2013.
	The Department did commission a cost-benefit study to look at the provision of sprinklers in residential buildings; the final report was published in 2005. This concluded that sprinklers are not cost effective for most dwellings.
	In 2008, further research was commissioned to consider the cost benefit case for installing sprinklers in the planned new homes in the Thames Gateway area compared to the costs of building and running new fire stations.
	The research findings were consistent with the previous 2005 study, and concluded that the value of the benefits of installing sprinklers would fall far short of the costs.
	New regulation on housing needs to be balanced and proportionate. Making sprinklers compulsory in all new homes would add an estimated £2,000 to £3,000 to the regulatory cost of a new-build home, meaning fewer new homes, making home ownership less accessible especially for first-time buyers, and potentially pushing up rents in the private rented sector.
	Smoke alarms, which have been shown to be very effective in saving lives and reducing injuries, are required in all new homes. We also strongly recommend that people should fit alarms in older homes and check them regularly.

Fracking: Planning Permission

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to his Statement of 6 June 2013, Official Report, column 113WS, on Onshore Wind (Local Planning), whether the provisions on greater community consultation and new planning practice guidance will apply to the installation of fracking rigs.

Nicholas Boles: We have recently made clear our intention to require compulsory pre-application consultation for more significant onshore wind development. We are keeping under review the case for using the powers introduced by the Localism Act for other types of development, and encourage pre-application consultation with local communities for all onshore oil and gas developments.
	Furthermore, the Department for Energy and Climate Change will publish before the summer proposals on the role community benefits might play in future shale gas development.
	At this stage the Government are keen to enable industry to carry out exploratory drilling to determine whether it is economically feasible to extract shale gas on a commercial basis.

Housing Improvement

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 15 May 2013, Official Report, columns 286-7W, on housing improvement, 
	(1)  when he expects discussions with the Local Government Association on the effect of the neighbours' consultation scheme to conclude;
	(2)  if he will publish the conclusions of his discussions with the Local Government Association on the impact of the neighbours' consultation scheme.

Nicholas Boles: As set out in the “Extending Permitted Development Rights for Homeowners and Businesses Impact Assessment”, published on 9 May 2013, the Department has held discussions with the Local Government Association and shared its assessment of the overall impact of the neighbours' consultation scheme on local authorities. There is an open invitation to the Local Government Association to discuss our approach should operational experience suggest a need to revise the assumptions made.

Housing: Disability

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will introduce a national wheelchair-accessible housing register.

Mark Prisk: The Government recognise the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities are able to access suitable accommodation which meets their needs.
	Accessible housing registers can be useful and we are aware that some councils and social landlords have incorporated such an approach within their lettings scheme. We have no plans to introduce a national register.
	The Government believe it is more important that people who require accessible housing are given the right level of priority under a council's housing allocation scheme, and that councils and social landlords are able to make the best use of affordable housing in their area, including accommodation which is accessible or has been adapted.
	That is why through the Localism Act we have retained the statutory reasonable preference requirements which ensure that priority for social housing is given to those who need to move on medical and welfare grounds (including grounds relating to a disability). We have also made sure that council and housing association landlords have the flexibility to use their social housing stock in a way which best meets the needs of individual households and their local area.

Housing: Disability

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many wheelchair-accessible properties have been built in the UK in each of the last five years.

Mark Prisk: DCLG does not collect information on the number of wheelchair-accessible properties built each year.

Housing: Disability

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many wheelchair-accessible properties there are in the UK.

Mark Prisk: According to DCLG's English Housing Survey, in 2010, there were an estimated 1.1 million wheelchair-accessible homes in England. This equates to around 5% of the English housing stock. These homes were assessed against four basic provisions included in part M of the Building Regulations, ie level access, a flush threshold, a sufficiently wide door and circulation space to move around, and use of a WC on the ground or entry floor.

Local Plans

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward legislative proposals to include the outcome of parish polls in lists of those matters that can be considered valid objections to a local authority's draft local plan.

Brandon Lewis: There are no plans to amend legislation on this issue. Parish councils and local communities have the opportunity to put forward their views as part of the consultation process into the development of the local plan.
	At examination local planning authorities have to show how they have taken account of representations made during the development of the draft plan. Any representations are considered by the inspector during the examination.
	More broadly, the content of local plans is ultimately a matter for elected local councillors on the local planning authority. Councillors will rightly want to consider prevailing public opinion, as they are accountable to the public via the ballot box.

Markets

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what progress he has made following the Portas Review to make it easier for people to become market traders by removing unnecessary regulations;
	(2)  what progress he has made following the Portas Review to establish a new National Market Day.

Mark Prisk: The Government have been working closely with the retail markets industry to help deliver a revival in local markets in England since publication of its response to the Portas review. A National Market Day was held on 15 June 2012, but the retail markets industry concluded that a fortnight would be better than a day. So last summer, the national market day was part of two weeks of markets under the banner of “Love Your Local Market”, where new traders could take the first step on the entrepreneurial ladder with subsidised or free tables and support from market operators. 400 markets were held and 2,200 new traders took part in 2012. This has been repeated in May this year, when 700 places ran 3,500 markets. Government have supported the National Association of British Market Authorities with a grant of £25,000 to run this year's campaign.
	The Government issued a consultation on draft regulations to make it easier for street traders to set up and conduct legitimate business on the streets. The consultation period has now ended and a Government response will be published in the summer.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government also supports the Working Group on Retail Markets. It has endorsed a number of measures to make it easier for people to become market traders: by creating new markets through the "Love Your Local Market" campaign; encouraging market operators to become more relaxed in pursuing market rights policies; and supporting a range of local initiatives introduced by market operators and the National Market Traders' Federation through "First Pitch" and market apprenticeship schemes. The Working Group has also given detailed consideration to introducing a more flexible markets arrangement in London by utilising the Food Act 1984 instead of the existing London legislation.

Non-domestic Rates

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  if he will estimate the cost to (a) local authorities and (b) the Exchequer of exempting childcare providers from business rates;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the average annual business rates charge on properties used for the provision of childcare in each local authority.

Brandon Lewis: This cost cannot be calculated because we do not hold information on business rates yield specifically from child care providers.
	We have doubled small business rate relief until April 2014 and estimate that approximately half a million businesses in England are benefiting, with approximately a third of a million businesses paying no rates at all. We have made it easier for small firms to claim the small business rate relief to which they are entitled. We have also given authorities powers to provide their own business rates discounts which they can use as they see fit. Where they do so, central Government meet 50% of the costs.

Non-domestic Rates

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the recommendations of the Portas Review, what consideration he has given to a review on the basis on which business rates are calculated from RPI to CPI.

Brandon Lewis: The Government have committed to review the current use of RPI for business rates indexation once its fiscal consolidation plans have been implemented. Business rates in Wales are a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government.

Retail Trade: Urban Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made since the publication of the independent review into the future of the high street following the Portas Review to shift town teams' focus on to making high streets accessible, attractive and safe.

Mark Prisk: The Government agree with the importance of safe and accessible high streets and are committed to giving councils and their partners the powers and support to do this. For example, councils can introduce a late night levy for places selling alcohol after midnight to cover the cost of late night policing. The Government are actively promoting good town centre design and have published a guide to developing urban spaces to revitalise high streets.
	The Department for Transport is giving £1.8 billion to local authorities to improve transport infrastructure, including roads, pathways and cycle routes, with a further £560 million for sustainable transport and £15 million for cycle routes and facilities.
	The Association of Town and City Management is leading a £1 million two-year programme of work funded by DCLG to support and develop high streets and town centres, providing support on business planning, offering advice and developing “how to” guides. The programme is designed to develop high streets fit for the 21st century, and will look at how communities can plan to meet their changing needs.
	Portas pilots containing elements that are addressing this recommendation are Wolverhampton, Stockport, Nelson, Liskeard, Bedminster, Dartford, Market Rasen, Brighton London Road, Tiverton, Morecambe Town, Margate and Liverpool.

Termination of Employment

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many compromise agreements were agreed with staff leaving his Department in the last 12 months; how many such agreements contained confidentiality clauses; and what the value of severance and pension payments associated with these agreements was.

Brandon Lewis: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Harrow West (Mr Thomas) on 25 June 2013, Official Report, column 193W.

Urban Areas: Parking

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress he has made following the Portas review to encourage local areas to implement free controlled parking schemes for their town centres and a parking league table.

Mark Prisk: Government have changed planning rules on parking. We have removed the previous Government's approach to setting parking fees to discourage car use and provide “maximum” parking levels. We have issued guidance that encourages councils to attract shoppers by setting competitive parking charges, and to improve the quality of parking in town centres so that it is convenient safe and secure.
	A number of the Portas Pilots have addressed parking issues over the last year. Braintree has introduced parking charges of 10p after 3 pm and all day on Sunday. More than 44,000 extra cars took advantage of this over the course of the year, representing a significant increase in footfall in the late afternoons.
	We encourage all local authorities to be transparent and publish parking charges. We have consulted on whether or not parking information, including the number of spaces available and revenue from parking charges and fines, should be included as a dataset for publication in the Code of Recommended Practice for Local Authorities on Data Transparency. We will publish our response by summer. We are considering what further steps can be taken to ensure that parking policies and practices support local high streets.

Urban Areas: Regeneration

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans the Prime Minister has to meet Mary Portas on the issue of regenerating high streets.

Mark Prisk: I have been asked to reply 
	as the Minister with responsibility for high streets and town centres.
	In May 2011, the Government asked Mary Portas to undertake an independent review into the future of the high street. Mary Portas presented her findings to Government in December 2011. The Government issued their formal response to the Portas review in March 2012 and have since been taking action to support the high street. Mary Portas has continued to take an interest in and has generously given her time to support a number of the Portas pilots that were set up in response to her review. I wrote to Mary Portas last month to update her on progress on high streets issues. I have placed a copy of the letter in the Library.

Urban Areas: Regeneration

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the Portas review on the future of high streets, published in December 2011, what progress has been made on enabling successful business improvement districts (BIDs) to take on more powers and responsibilities and become Super BIDs.

Mark Prisk: We have engaged with business improvement district partners and interested groups to discuss the concept of Super BIDs. Many of these are already taking on additional roles reflecting the local issues they face and it was felt there would be little value in meeting national criteria to be a Super BID. However there was strong support for providing help to those who wish to take on more responsibilities in their local areas. We will shortly be implementing new regulations to allow business improvement districts in England to operate across more than one local authority area, consulting on a new model led by property owners, and seeking tenders to operate a £500,000 recyclable loan fund to help proposed new business improvement districts with their start up costs. Business improvement districts policy in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Electricity Generation

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 3 June 2013, Official Report, column 819W, on electricity generation, if he will set out his modelling of spending on Renewables Obligation and Contracts for Difference for each year from 2015.

Michael Fallon: This Government have set out the Levy Control Framework total maximum spend profile to 2020-21.
	Actual spending is subject to a great deal of uncertainty as it depends on how technology costs evolve, as well as future gas prices and wholesale electricity prices to 2020-21.
	We will publish modelling of forecast spending on Renewables Obligation and Contracts for Difference in a number of scenarios as part of the draft Electricity Market Reform (EMR) Delivery Plan in July 2013.

Energy

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of people who will switch energy supplier in (a) 2013, (b) 2014 and (c) 2015.

Michael Fallon: A number of DECC's policies, including the establishment of a new Big Energy Saving Network, are geared towards increasing consumer engagement in the energy market as well as helping households keep their energy bills down. We do not project the impact of these policies on switching levels.

Energy

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to his Department's quarterly domestic energy switching statistics, what assessment he has made of the factors that encourage consumers to switch energy supplier.

Michael Fallon: Consumers switch energy supplier for several reasons, but by far the biggest is moving to a cheaper tariff to save money on their energy bills (Ofgem Customer Engagement with the Energy market—tracking survey 2013). Other, reasons include switching energy supplier because they are unhappy with their current supplier, choosing a tariff that may not be available with their current supplier for example one that provided energy from renewable sources, or a fixed rate tariff to protect from future price rises.

Energy

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the reasons for changes in the overall numbers of people switching energy supplier since 2008.

Michael Fallon: The following table shows the total number of switches that took place between 2008 to 2012 (possible, that consumers may have switched more than once in a year). The decision by the big six energy suppliers during 2011 and 2012 to end doorstep selling is likely to have been a factor in the decline.
	
		
			  Electricity Gas 
			 2008 5,428,000 4,156,000 
			 2009 5,025,000 3,825,000 
			 2010 4,750,000 3,556,000 
			 2011 4,206,000 3,270,000 
			 2012 3,342,000 2,280,000

Energy

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many payments have been made by his Department to any energy supplier of (a) less than £250, (b) £251 to £500, (c) £501 to £1,000, (d) £1,001 to £5,000 and (e) over £5,000 in each of the last five years.

Michael Fallon: The Department of Energy and Climate Change publishes payments data in accordance with the Transparency Agenda requirements. Details of the Department's transactions over £500 since April 2010 are published and can be found using the following link.
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/departmental-spend-over-500-april-2013
	For transactions before April 2010 and for transactions below £500, all of the details the hon. Member has requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Energy Companies Obligation

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward legislative proposals to cap the total costs of the Energy Company Obligation should those costs increase above the figure forecast in his Department's impact assessment.

Gregory Barker: The Department does not have the legislative powers to establish a buy-out or cost cap for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO); nor does the Department have plans to implement one at present. However, we will be closely monitoring the costs associated with delivery. Based on the prices of lots traded on the ECO brokerage platform to date, initial estimates indicate that ECO is broadly on track to be delivered at around the estimated costs in last year's final impact assessment.

Energy Companies Obligation

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with (a) British Gas, (b) SSE, (c) Scottish Power, (d) First Utility, (e) EDF and (f) E.On on the costs of delivery the Energy Company Obligation; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: The Department has had close engagement with obligated suppliers regarding their Energy Company Obligation (ECO) obligations and the costs of their delivery and we are committed to the ongoing monitoring of the actual costs of ECO. Based on the prices of lots traded on the ECO brokerage platform to date, initial estimates indicate that ECO is broadly on track to be delivered at around the estimated costs in last year's final impact assessment.

Energy Companies Obligation

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will publish a review of the operation of the first six months of the Energy Company Obligation to ensure that the costs of that programme are not exceeding the figure forecast in his Department's impact assessment.

Gregory Barker: DECC has a legal obligation to publish a progress report on the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO). Through the ECO Order we are now able to gather appropriate information on delivery costs from energy suppliers to enable us to monitor and analyse the costs of delivering ECO in a way that was not possible under previous schemes.

Fuel Poverty

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2013, Official Report, columns 622-23W, on fuel poverty, what the monetary value of expenditure on (a) Warm Front, (b) the super priority group of the carbon emissions reduction target, (c) the community energy saving programme and (d) the voluntary agreement to support vulnerable and fuel poor households was in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10, (iii) 2010-11, (iv) 2011-12 and (v) 2012-13.

Gregory Barker: The answer given on 18 June 2013, Official Report, columns 622-23W, uses a combination of actual reported figures on the resources available where they exist and estimated monetary values of resources available where they do not. In the year 2008-09 to 2012-13, available resources for (a) Warm Front and (d) the Voluntary Agreement is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 £ million 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Warm Front (cash prices) 395 369 366 145 100 
			 Warm Front (2012 prices) 427 392 378 147 100 
			 Voluntary Agreement (cash prices)(1) 100 125 150 — — 
			 Voluntary Agreement (2012 prices)(1) 108 133 155 — — 
			 Warm Home Discount (cash prices)( 1) — — — 250 275 
			 Warm Home Discount (2012 prices)(1) — — — 253 275 
			 (1) The figures listed here are the target levels of expenditure required under the Voluntary Agreement and Warm Home Discount scheme. The Voluntary Agreement expired in March 2011 and was replaced by the Warm Home Discount. 
		
	
	The carbon emissions reduction target (CERT) and community energy saving programme (CESP) were legal obligations on the larger energy companies. Energy companies were not required to report cost information, and we do not hold information about actual delivery costs. However, the final evaluation of both schemes will be published later in 2013 and we intend that this will, to the extent possible, include an assessment of overall delivery costs.
	Broad interim estimates were made of the available support to (b) those eligible for the super priority group (SPG) of the CERT scheme, and (c) CESP eligible households, based on published estimates from the CERT impact assessments(1) and CESP impact assessment(2). These are not reported expenditure levels by obligated suppliers under these schemes, but based on broad estimates made at the start of the schemes, reflecting only the approximate level of resources expected to be available to households at risk of fuel poverty. The estimated resources available for the requested years are shown in the following table.
	(1) (i) Original CERT impact assessment:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/48491/121-iacertextension.pdf
	(ii) CERT uplift impact assessment:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121217150421/http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/consultations/carbon%20emissions%20reduction%20target/1_20090630122512_e_@@_certimpactassessment.pdf
	and
	(iii) CERT extension impact assessment
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/42587/899-ia-cert-role-appliances-consumer-electroni.pdf
	(2) CESP impact assessment:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100404202125/http://man270109a.decc.gov.uk/Media/viewfile.ashx?FilePath=Consultations/CESP/1_20090710121840_e_@@_CESPIA.pdf&filetype=4
	
		
			 £ million 
			  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 CERT (SPG eligible households) (2012 prices) (1, 2)— 179 184 190 127 
			 CESP (2012 prices) — 52 104 104 78 
			 (1) No estimate available. (2) The answer relates to immediately prior to and over the current spending review period, therefore no estimate for 2008-09 has been made.

Fuel Poverty

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2013, Official Report, columns 622-3W, on fuel poverty, what estimate his Department has made of the likely monetary value of expenditure on (a) the Warm Homes Discount scheme and (b) the affordable warmth and carbon saving communities elements of the energy companies obligation in (i) 2013-14 and (ii) 2014-15.

Gregory Barker: The anticipated expenditure on the Warm Home Discount scheme is currently £300 million in 2013-14 and £310 million in 2014-15, in nominal prices, as per the target expenditure profile in the scheme regulations.(1)
	The Affordable Warmth and Carbon Saving Communities elements of the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) are specified in terms of outcomes—notional heating cost reduction and carbon emissions reduction; rather than expenditure. The analysis in the final Green Deal and ECO Impact Assessment(2) estimated that the combined expenditure on both Affordable Warmth and Carbon Saving Communities obligations combined would be around £540 million per year, in 2011 prices. While actual expenditure under these elements of the ECO may vary between years, it is anticipated that expenditure in both 2013-14 and 2014-15 will be approximately at this level.
	(1) Available at:
	http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2011/9780111507650/contents
	(2) Available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/42984/5533-final-stage-impact-assessment-for-the-green-deal-a.pdf

Fuel Poverty

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2013, Official Report, columns 622-3W, on fuel poverty, what forecast his Department has made of the number of households that will receive assistance under (a) the Warm Homes Discount scheme and (b) the affordable warmth and carbon saving communities elements of the energy company obligation in (i) 2013-14 and (ii) 2014-15.

Gregory Barker: It was estimated in the final Warm Home Discount scheme Impact Assessment(1) that around 2 million households would be assisted in 2013-14, with around 2 million households also assisted in 2014-15.
	Under the Affordable Warmth and Carbon Saving Communities elements of the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) it is estimated that, based on analysis from the final Green Deal and ECO Impact Assessment(2), around 230,000 households per year could benefit from heating and/or insulation measures. While actual delivery may vary year to year, it is anticipated that the number of households assisted in both 2013-14 and 2014-15 will be approximately at this level.
	(1) Available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/42595/1308-warm-home-disc-impact-assessment.pdf
	(2) Available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/42984/5533-final-stage-impact-assessment-for-the-green-deal-a.pdf

Green Deal Scheme

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what reason the Green Deal computer software will not make a recommendation for insulating a timber frame wall in the Energy Performance Certificate; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: Some construction types, including timber framed walls, are not always suitable for standard insulation measures and require specialist surveys to determine the correct course of action. This makes it impractical for the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to include recommendations for wall insulation for these sorts of property. However, the Department is exploring the scope for allowing insulation measures for timber framed homes to be recommended in Green Deal Advice Reports.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the total tonnage of greenhouse gases emitted through business operations by (a) npower, (b) EDF, (c) Scottish Power, (d) E.ON, (e) British Gas and (f) SSE in each of the last five years. [162267 ]
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Gregory Barker: The Government do not hold this data in the format requested. Direct carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from some sites operated by these companies are recorded under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
	Cumulative EU ETS emissions data 2008-12 at site level:
	http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/ets/registry/docs/compliance_2012_en.xlsx
	The EU ETS data only indicate the site name and not the name of the operator/parent company.
	For compliance years 2010-11 and 2011-12 of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, the Environment Agency published Performance League Tables (PLTs) showing the CO2 emissions of participants based on their qualifying energy usage under the scheme. This is set out in the following table and the full tables are available online at the links underneath:
	
		
			 Tonnes CO2 equivalent 
			  2010-11 2011-12 
			 British Gas 25,371 23,083 
			 EDF Energy 30,105 23,167 
			 RWE npower 29,674 27,460 
			 Scottish Power 58,882 57,563 
			 Scottish and Southern Electric 88,052 83,641 
		
	
	2010-11 PLT:
	http://crc.environment-agency.gov.uk/pplt/web/plt/public/2010-11/CRCPerformanceLeagueTable20102011
	2011-12 PLT:
	http://crc.environment-agency.gov.uk/pplt/web/plt/public/2011-12/CRCPerformanceLeagueTable20112012
	The CRC data exclude emissions from electricity generation by these companies as those emissions do not form part of the CRC but are reported under the EU ETS.
	From 1 October 2013 all UK quoted companies will be required to report on their greenhouse gas emissions as part of their annual directors' report.

Hinkley Point C Power Station

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 17 April 2013, Official Report, column 403W on Hinkley Point C Power Station, if he will publish the documents which formed the evidential basis for the conclusion of the Planning Inspectorate, that the proposed development is not likely to have a significant impact on the environment of another European state.

Gregory Barker: The Planning Inspectorate's Transboundary Screening Matrix and Report are referenced as the following documents:
	PD116
	http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/wp-content/ipc/uploads/projects/EN010001/Enquiries/04-11-2011%20-%20Richard%20Mayson%20-%20Enquiry%20918820/Hinkley%20Transboundary%20Screening%20Matrix.pdf
	PD117
	http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/wp-content/ipc/uploads/projects/EN010001/2.%20Post-Submission/EIA/Regulation%2024/120522_EN010001_%20Hinkley_Transboundary%20Screening.doc.pdf
	These can be found in the Hinkley Point C (HPC) examination library in the Planning Inspectorate's website.
	All the reports and documents referred to in the Screening Matrix and Report are available in the HPC examination library:
	http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/south-west/hinkley-point-c-new-nuclear-power-station/

Mobile Phones

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which companies supply (a) mobile telephones and (b) mobile data services to his Department.

Gregory Barker: Vodafone is the single supplier of mobile telephones and mobile data services to the Department.

Office of Unconventional Gas and Oil

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the budget is of the Office of Unconventional Gas and Oil; and how many staff that office has.

Michael Fallon: The allocated staff and programme budget for the Office of Unconventional Gas and Oil in 2013-14 is £558,000. It has eight allocated staff.

Renewable Energy

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2013, Official Report, column 461W, on renewable energy, how much of the renewable electricity capacity installed between the end of March 2010 and the end of 2012 had (a) planning determined and (b) construction begun before May 2010.

Michael Fallon: “Energy Trends” does not capture this information.
	However, the renewable energy planning database (REPD) tracks the progress of projects from planning through to generation, available at:
	https://restats.decc.gov.uk/app/reporting/decc/monthlyextract
	The database shows that in the period May 2010 to December 2012, 5.2 GW became operational. Of this, 4.1 GW (78%) had received planning consent before May 2010. The REPD does not routinely track the date construction begins.

Renewable Energy

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2013, Official Report, columns 461-62W, on renewable energy, what proportion of the £29 billion of new investment in renewable energy since 2010 is (a) operational, (b) had planning determined before May 2010 and (c) construction begun before May 2010.

Gregory Barker: There is no central database which records jobs and investment in renewable energy.
	In order to arrive at these figures, DECC used the renewable energy planning database (REPD) to identify projects which have publicly announced jobs and/or investment details, available at:
	https://restats.decc.gov.uk/app/reporting/decc/monthlyextract
	Of the £29 billion-worth of large-scale investment in renewable energy publicly announced since 2010 and recorded by DECC, 0.6% (£185 million) was operational as at May 2010 and 5.4% (£1,575 million) had received planning consent between 1 January and 30 April 2010. The REPD does not routinely track the date construction begins.

Renewable Energy

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will make it his policy to cap subsidies to renewables at a level of the calculated social cost per tonne of carbon which would otherwise have been emitted into the atmosphere.

Michael Fallon: We do not plan to cap subsidies to renewables in that way. A range of factors is taken into account in determining appropriate levels of support for renewable energy technologies. The Government's consultations and policy documents on renewable energy support schemes, and their associated impact assessments, set out the detailed rationale in each case.

Wind Power

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change at what stage during the planning process the wind farm developer becomes eligible for the Government subsidies offered for the development of a wind farm.

Gregory Barker: holding answer 27 June 2013
	Wind generating stations are eligible for support under the Renewables Obligation. Stations up to 5 megawatts in scale may, alternatively, apply for support under the Feed-in Tariff scheme. The developer of such a station would have to have obtained planning consent before installing the turbines, and only once the station is commissioned could the developer apply for accreditation under either scheme. Support is only issued to accredited stations in respect of the renewable electricity they generate.

Wind Power

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what proportion of constraint payments were made to wind farms from 1 June 2012 to 31 May 2013;
	(2)  what the average constraint payment to wind farm operators per megawatt hour was in the 12 months from May 2012.

Michael Fallon: The Department does not hold this information. Constraint payments are made by National Grid plc through competitive market arrangements in order to help ensure the secure operation of the electricity system. National Grid has advised that details of most individual constraint payments to wind farms are published at:
	www.elexon.co.uk
	and
	www.bmreports.com
	and aggregated data is published in its Monthly Balancing Services Summary:
	www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Electricity/Balancing/Summary

Wind Power

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department paid in constraint payments to power generators in the 12 months from May 2012.

Michael Fallon: The Department does not make constraint payments. These are made by National Grid plc through competitive market arrangements in order to ensure the secure operation of the electricity system. National Grid's “Monthly Balancing Services Summary” publication shows that total constraint payments from May 2012 to April 2013 were £180 million.

Wind Power: Birds

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds regarding the location of wind farms to ensure that such farms will not interfere with the flight path of migrating birds.

Gregory Barker: The Department publishes quarterly lists of all Ministers' meetings that involved outside interested parties on the gov.uk website. The RSPB is able to make representations in respect of proposals for wind farms as part of the statutory planning process and its views are considered by the determining authorities.

Wind Power: Birds

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many wind farms have been granted permission to be located close to migrating birds (a) on land and (b) at sea since May 2010.

Michael Fallon: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), has consented six offshore wind farms and five onshore wind farms in and off the coast of England and Wales since May 2010. In compliance with legislative requirements, potential impacts on birds were considered as part of the decision-making process for those projects, which included consultation with appropriate statutory nature conservation bodies and others with a relevant interest. In each case, the Secretary of State concluded that the wind farms in question could be granted consent without significant impacts on birds.
	The Department does not retain data on bird impacts associated with wind farms consented through other planning regimes.

TRANSPORT

Driving Under Influence

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on steps taken in Scotland and Northern Ireland on the drink-drive blood alcohol limit; and if he will reconsider his policy on Sir Peter North's recommendation to lower the drink-drive limit in England and Wales. [R]

Stephen Hammond: I liaise with my counterparts from Scotland and Northern Ireland and a wide range of issues is discussed.
	The Government have no plans to lower the drink- drive limit in England and Wales.

Driving: Young People

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the green paper on young driver safety; and what the reasons are for the delay in publication of this report.

Stephen Hammond: We intend to publish the green paper later in the year.
	This is an important piece of work and we need to make sure we consider the issues thoroughly before we come forward with the green paper.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether he proposes that it will be necessary for inheritance tax to be paid on agricultural land which is to be compulsorily purchased as a result of High Speed 2;
	(2)  whether he proposes that it will be necessary for capital gains tax to be paid on compulsorily purchased land as a result of High Speed 2.

Simon Burns: Taxation is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I am not aware of any proposals for specific changes to the rules on inheritance tax, or capital gains tax, in respect of compensation payments relating to HS2.

Network Rail

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has conducted of the effectiveness of Network Rail's voluntary transparency code.

Norman Baker: The coalition Government welcome Network Rail's transparency scheme which was launched in June 2012. The scheme responds to demand for more of the company's data and information to be made freely available, acknowledging Network Rail's status as a regulated provider of public services in receipt of public subsidy.
	Given Network Rail's status as a private sector company limited by guarantee, the Government have made no formal assessment of the effectiveness of the scheme. However, we will continue to keep track of Network Rail's progress as we pursue the principle of transparency across the wider rail industry.

Rescue Services: Helicopters

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what commitment the Government have secured on the new Air and Sea Rescue Helicopter contract to ensure that the same level of response will be provided.

Stephen Hammond: Minimum operating parameters for the new contract were established based on the existing search and rescue capability and historic incident patterns. These include requirements to take off within 15 minutes by day and 45 minutes by night, achieve at least 98% aircraft availability and reach all very high and high risk areas and 75% of medium risk areas within one hour of take-off. Bristow Helicopters Ltd more than satisfied the minimum requirements and we predict that average flying times to incidents under the new contract will improve by approximately 20%.

Roads: Accidents

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatalities there have been as a result of road traffic accidents involving (a) motorcyclists, (b) cyclists and (c) pedestrians in Cannock Chase constituency in the last five years.

Stephen Hammond: In the last five years in Cannock Chase constituency there have been the following numbers of fatalities in road traffic accidents:
	
		
			  Number of fatalities in accidents involving  
			  Motorcyclists Cyclists Pedestrians Total fatalities 
			 2008 1 0 1 2 
			 2009 2 0 1 3 
			 2010 0 1 0 1 
			 2011 1 0 2 (1)2 
			 2012 1 0 0 1 
			 (1) One fatality in 2011 was as a result of an accident involving both a motor cyclist and a pedestrian, hence the total does not equal 3. Note: Uses constituency boundary as at 2010.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Sarah Newton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what financial help his Department is making available to local authorities to help repair potholes;
	(2)  how much additional money was made available by his Department to (a) each local authority in the UK and (b) Cornwall Council for road repairs in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11, (iii) 2011-12 and (iv) 2012-13.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport is providing over £3 billion in capital funding to local highway authorities in England, outside London, for highways maintenance between 2010 and 2015.
	The Department has also provided additional highways maintenance funding to local highway authorities in 2009 and in 2011. I have placed a table in the House Library on how much additional money was made available to (a) each local authority in the UK and (b) Cornwall Council for road repairs in 2009 and in 2011. The Government also announced a further £215 million for highways maintenance to be allocated over the next two financial years (2013-14 and 2014-15) in December 2012. Further information, including the share of the funding Cornwall County Council is being allocated can be found at the following weblink:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/37009/additional-highways-maintenance-funding-allocations.pdf
	Local authorities are also able to use revenue funding, allocated by the Department of Communities and Local Government through the Revenue Support Grant for maintaining their local highways. Neither revenue or capital highways maintenance block funding is ring-fenced and it is for local highway authorities to decide upon their spending priorities across the whole range of services that they provide.
	The Department for Transport is also supporting the highways maintenance sector including local highway authorities by providing £6 million for the Highways Maintenance Efficiency Programme. Further information including the work that the Programme is delivering is available at the following weblink:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/hmep/

South West Trains

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what payments South West Trains made to the Exchequer in each financial year since April 2009; and what payments South West Trains received from public funds in each of those years.

Simon Burns: The following tables set out the payments and receipts on the South West Trains franchise since April 2009:
	
		
			 Payments made by SSWT 
			 £ 
			  2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Franchise Premia 101,226,693 248,897,686 313,460,300 394,345,515 
		
	
	
		
			 Payments received by SSWT 
			 £ 
			  2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 Transaction fees for Capacity enhancement project 544,415 — 355,090 1,277,065 
			 Revenue Support — 66,921,144 83,061,142 118,398,777 
			 Revenue Share Adjustment 81,000 — — —

Speed Limits: Cameras

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether guidance given to chief constables by his Department on the use of speed cameras has changed in the last three years.

Stephen Hammond: The Department does not give guidance to chief constables about the use of speed cameras. It is for local authorities and the police to decide whether or not to use speed cameras and how they wish to operate them.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines his Department gives to local authorities on ensuring that speed cameras are visible to motorists; and whether these guidelines have changed since May 2010.

Stephen Hammond: It is for local authorities and police to decide whether or not to use speed cameras and how they wish to operate them. No guidance has been issued since May 2010.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed cameras are currently operational in the UK; and how many speed cameras were operational in each of the last four years.

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport does not hold the requested information. Local authorities have statutory duties related to road safety and the decisions about whether they operate speed cameras are a matter for them.

Taxis

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sanctions his Department takes against taxi firms whose vehicles repeatedly fail roadside checks.

Norman Baker: Local authorities (outside London) are responsible for enforcing the law on taxi licensing. The law allows them to suspend a taxi licence where a vehicle has failed a roadside test. The Department for Transport does not have power to take sanctions against a taxi firm whose vehicles repeatedly fail roadside checks.

Taxis

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average length of a licence suspension for taxi drivers whose vehicle failed a roadside check was in each of the last three years.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport does not keep records of sanctions imposed by local authorities in carrying out taxi enforcement activity.

Taxis

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of taxis in (a) England, (b) the North West and (c) Pendle constituency have failed roadside checks in each of the last three years.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport does not keep records of local authorities' enforcement activity.

Travel: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the number of cross-border journeys between Scotland and England by (a) train, (b) air and (c) road in each of the last 10 years.

Norman Baker: The estimates for the number of cross-border journeys in both directions between Scotland and England for the last 10 years are presented in the tables below:
	(a)Rail—The estimates for the number of cross-border rail journeys in both directions between Scotland and England are published by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR). The estimates are based on passenger ticket sales data, and the most recent estimates available are for the 2010-11 financial year.
	(b)Air—The estimated numbers of passengers travelling in both directions between Scotland and England by air are sourced from the UK Civil Aviation Authority airport statistics.
	(c)Roads—For road traffic at the Scottish border, the Department only has information available about traffic flows on the Motorways and A roads (‘Major roads'). Traffic estimates for other roads are not available at that geographical level. On the major roads, the table provides figures on the average number of vehicles expected to cross the Scottish border in both directions on an average day in each year. Note that these flows are vehicle flows not passenger flows.
	
		
			 Financial year (a) Rail journeys (thousand) 
			 2001-02 5,280 
			 2002-03 4,862 
			 2003-04 5,015 
			 2004-05 4,887 
			 2005-06 5,216 
			 2006-07 5,558 
			 2007-08 5,807 
			 2008-09 6,129 
			 2009-10 6,641 
			 2010-11 7,419 
			 Source: ORR statistics 
		
	
	
		
			 Calendar year (b) Air—Estimated terminal passengers (million) (c) Roads—Average number of vehicles on an average day on motorways and ‘A' roads (thousand) 
			 2002 10.6 58.5 
			 2003 11.4 57.8 
			 2004 11.8 56.8 
			 2005 12.0 58.1 
			 2006 11.8 58.8 
			 2007 11.7 59.1 
			 2008 10.9 57.9 
			 2009 9.7 54.6 
			 2010 8.8 54.2 
			 2011 9.1 53.7 
			 2012 9.0 52.4 
			 Source: (b) CAA airport statistics, (c) DfT Traffic survey.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Housing Benefit Costs

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the effect of rising costs in the private rented housing sector on benefit expenditure.

Steve Webb: In the decade before this Government came to power, real-terms private rent inflation increased housing benefit expenditure by around £3 billion per year. Further information about this estimate has been published today as an ad hoc statistical analysis on the Department’s website.
	We took action to get the Housing Benefit Bill under control, and as a result, by the end of the Parliament our local housing allowance reforms will save just around £2 billion annually.

Unpaid Work Experience

Duncan Hames: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on unpaid work experience undertaken by jobseekers.

Mark Hoban: Our policy is to offer every young person the opportunity to participate in work experience if they want to, so that young people can gain work related skills and disciplines, and improve their marketability to future employers. Participation is entirely voluntary. The scheme is working well I would encourage young people to take part.

Discretionary Housing Payments

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether receipt of disability living allowance should be a disqualification for receipt of discretionary housing payment.

Esther McVey: Receiving disability living allowance does not disqualify a person from receiving a discretionary housing payment.
	DLA is a non means tested non taxable benefit paid in and out of work. Established guidance to local authorities on the treatment of DLA when making an assessment for DHPs is re-issued as part of the DHP guidance manual each year.

Benefit Cap

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of the benefit cap in developing strong work incentives.

Mark Hoban: It is my strong belief that there is a connection between the benefit cap and getting people into work.
	This is reflected in the views of DWP staff and claimants that the cap is encouraging many of the people affected to make extra efforts to find work.
	We will be thoroughly evaluating the policy including the effects on employment.

Zero-hours Contracts

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the ability of his Department to deal with those on zero-hours contracts who are in receipt of benefits.

Mark Hoban: There are around 200,000 people employed on zero hours contracts—less than 1% of all workers.
	The current benefit system does deal with claimants on zero-hours contracts—although because of the split between out of work benefits and tax credits, it can be complicated for someone with fluctuating earnings.
	UC will make it easier for those with fluctuating earnings such as those on zero-hours contracts. The use of real-time earnings information will make the process easier and more secure.

Work Programme

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the most recent data on the performance of the Work programme.

Mark Hoban: Work programme performance has significantly improved—it is working. The numbers of people finding lasting work—at least six months for most people or three months for the hardest to help—has increased significantly from 9,000 in March 2012 to 132,000 in March 2013.

Bereavement Benefits: Civil Partners

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what methodology his Department used in calculating the £18 million cost of equalising survivor pension benefits for civil partners.

Steve Webb: In calculating the estimate of £18 million, the Department has used data from the ONS and 2009 Employers Pension Provision Survey to estimate the proportion of contracted-in defined benefit members that may have a civil partner. This proportion is then applied to total contracted-in defined benefit pension liabilities to estimate the liabilities accrued in respect of these members.
	The additional cost of providing survivor benefits where none was previously provided for same sex couples is estimated to be the percentage difference in the value of an annuity purchased at age 65 with and without survivor benefits. This percentage is then applied to the estimated liabilities accrued in respect of those members with a civil partnership, to provide the estimated increase in liabilities associated with paying additional survivor benefits. This also takes into account that one-third of schemes (data from the 2009 Employers Pension Provision Survey) already do provide full survivor benefits for those members in a civil partnership.

Children: Maintenance

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure that those on the 1993 and 2003 child maintenance schemes are referred to the new child maintenance scheme;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure that child support payments are administered under a single scheme.

Steve Webb: In December 2012, we introduced the new 2012 statutory maintenance scheme, using a pathfinder approach, to clients with four or more children.
	Once the 2012 scheme has opened to all new applicants, and has been shown to be working well, the Government intend to begin a gradual process of ending liabilities on cases in the previous Child Support Agency schemes. Parents in these CSA schemes will be invited to consider making their own family-based arrangements for maintenance or to apply to the new Child Maintenance Service, which operates the 2012 scheme.
	Arrears that have accrued on cases under the 1993 and 2003 schemes will continue to be collected by the Child Maintenance Service after the closure of these schemes, whether or not a new case is opened on the 2012 scheme, and no collection charges will be levied for this service.

Disability

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken to deliver a cross-Government disability strategy.

Esther McVey: Our cross-Government disability strategy, Fulfilling Potential, has been developed with disabled people. We are breaking down the barriers to full participation in society.
	Disabled people are seeing improvements in key outcomes and reduced inequalities with non-disabled people.
	To drive further progress, we will publish a detailed action plan on 2 July 2013.

Employment Schemes: Young People

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to increase the take-up of the wage incentive in the Youth Contract.

Mark Hoban: The Department continues to take action to maximise take-up of wage incentives within the Youth Contract. We have extended the eligibility of the wage incentive so that it is now available to all 18 to 24-year-olds reaching six months on benefit.
	Jobcentre Plus continues to focus on marketing the wage incentive to employers, including local events to bring employers and young people together. We are promoting the sharing of our good practice with Work programme providers, who also market the wage incentive locally.
	Wage incentives continue to be marketed nationally to all employers, particularly by working with trade organisations who encourage their members to get involved. All eligible claimants are advised to include the wage incentive on their CV and are given self-marketing cards to give to prospective employers.
	We are engaging with Work programme providers to address barriers and drive up performance through clarifying guidance and streamlining the end to end process.

Employment Schemes: Young People

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of barriers to employers taking up the wage incentive in the Youth Contract; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: On 1 February 2013 the Department for Work and Pensions published an independent evaluation of the Wage Incentive Scheme. The evaluation included a survey of employers. The report can be found here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-evaluation-of-the-youth-contract-wage-incentive-scheme-rr828

Housing Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average weekly award for housing benefit was for (a) local authority, (b) housing association and (c) private sector tenants in each Government region in each month for which figures are available since November 2008.

Steve Webb: The information requested for average weekly housing benefit award, by tenure and region, can be found at:
	https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk
	Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:
	https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm

Housing Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average weekly eligible rent for housing benefit was for (a) local authority, (b) housing association and (c) private sector tenants in each Government region in each month for which figures are available since November 2008.

Steve Webb: The information from December 2012 to February 2013 will be placed in the Library. The information prior to December 2009 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Note:
	This is based on the eligible rent variable on the single housing benefit extract administrative data. However, these figures are estimates only and are not part of the National Statistics produced by DWP. The estimates provided may be slight overestimates, particularly for private rented sector cases, due to this variable not always correctly accounting for LHA restrictions.

Housing Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average weekly award for housing benefit was for (a) local authority, (b) housing association and (c) private sector tenants in each government region in each November since November 2008 for the categories of (i) passport working age, in employment working age, other non-passport working age and (ii) passport pension, non-passport pension age.

Steve Webb: The information requested for average weekly housing benefit award, by tenure, region and passport status, can be found at:
	https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/
	Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:
	https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm

Housing Benefit

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many housing benefit claims were made by (a) local authority, (b) housing association and (c) private sector tenants in each Government region in each November since November 2008.

Steve Webb: The information from November 2010 to November 2012 is shown in the following table. Data prior to November 2010 are not available.
	
		
			 Total number of housing benefit new claims, November 2010-November 2012 
			  New claims Local authority tenants Registered social landlord tenants Private tenants 
			 November 2010     
			 All 144,635 29,318 35,644 79,036 
			 East 11,863 1,886 3,455 6,492 
			 South East 16,393 2,195 4,239 9,875 
			 North West 17,219 2,144 4,958 10,014 
			 South West 12,406 1,332 2,958 8,089 
		
	
	
		
			 East Midlands 9,714 2,058 2,048 5,554 
			 North East 6,449 1,210 1,823 3,408 
			 West Midlands 13,111 2,711 3,478 6,888 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 13,531 2,971 2,921 7,540 
			 London 20,472 4,559 4,157 11,610 
			 Wales 7,654 1,530 1,988 4,107 
			 Scotland 15,823 6,722 3,619 5,459 
			      
			 November 2011     
			 All 148,819 29,793 36,564 81,383 
			 East 11,672 1,701 3,367 6,535 
			 South East 16,965 2,235 4,414 10,210 
			 North West 17,304 1,612 5,388 10,188 
			 South West 11,744 1,264 2,768 7,658 
			 East Midlands 10,430 2,260 2,157 5,980 
			 North East 7,264 1,468 1,965 3,809 
			 West Midlands 13,459 2,983 3,521 6,889 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 14,758 3,071 3,010 8,543 
			 London 20,739 4,725 4,320 11,443 
			 Wales 7,647 1,360 1,980 4,200 
			 Scotland 16,837 7,114 3,674 5,928 
			      
			 November 2012     
			 All 141,072 27,229 35,280 77,305 
			 East 11,032 1,741 3,009 6,115 
			 South East 16,074 2,182 4,153 9,584 
			 North West 17,654 1,391 5,824 10,309 
			 South West 11,483 1,240 2,933 7,226 
			 East Midlands 9,175 1,907 2,002 5,232 
			 North East 7,266 1,424 1,962 3,855 
			 West Midlands 12,885 2,750 3,267 6,780 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 12,708 2,688 2,607 7,297 
			 London 20,801 4,650 4,334 11,522 
			 Wales 7,198 1,185 1,855 4,073 
			 Scotland 14,796 6,071 3,334 5,312 
			 Notes: 1. Great Britain, England, Scotland and Wales figures are based on published data. 2. Totals are based on the available data, ignoring authorities with missing data. Hence, this total is an under-estimate of the true total. 3. Data for November 2009 and November 2008 are unavailable. This is due to the fact that previously we provided a combination of the two speed of processing measures (Changes and Events) for each local authority as a ‘Right Time Indicator'. This has now been discontinued. 4. Registered Social Landlord cases (RSL) were previously Housing Association. 5. A small number of claims with no tenancy type recorded are shown in the overall total of new claims, but not in the tenancy breakdown. Hence, the tenancy breakdown does not sum to the total of new claims. Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE)

Housing Benefit: Night Shelters

Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the ruling in the case of OR v. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Isle of Anglesey CC [2013] UKUT 06S (AAC), if he will issue clarification to local authorities as to when a night shelter should and should not be eligible for funding through housing benefit.

Steve Webb: The Upper Tribunal judgment was about whether a person’s accommodation could be regarded, for benefit purposes, as a dwelling which the claimant occupied as his home. Housing benefit regulations do not refer specifically to homeless hostels or shelters and the law in this respect has not changed.
	It remains for local authorities to make their decision in each claim after considering all the relevant facts.

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many staff are involved in manually checking the IT system for the benefit cap;
	(2)  what the cost is of employing staff to manually check the IT system for the benefit cap;
	(3)  what manual processes exist for checking the IT system for the benefit cap; and for how long this manual process will be in place.

Mark Hoban: Data taken from DWP, HMRC and LA systems, which are used to identify households potentially affected by the benefit cap, are subject to a manual check before data are sent to local authorities for capping to take place. This check is to verify the benefits paid to a household and to check whether any exemptions should apply. This process will remain in place until such time that an automated solution is developed and introduced.
	During 2013-14, on current plans the following numbers of staff will be involved in interrogating all relevant existing departmental IT systems for benefit cap:
	
		
			  Number 
			 April 30 
			 May 30 
			 June 30 
			 July 112 
			 August 112 
			 September 112 
			 October 28 
			 November 28 
			 December 28 
			 January 28 
			 February 28 
			 March 28 
		
	
	The staff cost to carry out that manual check in 2013-14 is currently expected to be around £1.3 million.

Social Security Benefits

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make an assessment of the Oxfam and Church Action on Poverty report on “Walking the Breadline: The Scandal of Food Poverty in 21st Century Britain” and its conclusions on the benefit system and the benefit sanctions regime.

Mark Hoban: The Government do all that they can to help people find employment. It is also right for the taxpayer to expect those who are claiming out of work benefits to be doing all they can to find a job.
	Jobseekers enter into an agreement with Jobcentre Plus that they will undertake a series of actions in order to optimise their search for work. If they do not without good reason follow these requirements then it is only right that a sanction is applied. Reduced payments are made where necessary to prevent hardship.

Social Security Benefits

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit payments were delayed in (a) Bristol and (b) the UK in each of the last 12 months.

Mark Hoban: The information requested is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many fraud investigations undertaken by his Department in the last 12 months have been halted because of non-availability of translators;
	(2)  how many bookings were made for translators to be present at his Department's Fraud Investigation Service/Single Fraud Investigation Service interviews in each month since June 2011.

Mark Hoban: There are two primary providers of the translator service to the Department's Fraud Investigation Service/Single Fraud Investigation Service and these are Prestige and Bigword.
	For Prestige, there have been 2,409 fraud interviews involving interpreters between August 2011 and May 2013. Between January and May of this year, 53 fraud interviews were cancelled as a result of non-availability; data before this date are not available.
	DWP does not hold the information requested information for Bigword, but it can be obtained from the supplier, which will take several weeks. I will write to the right hon. Member once the information has been obtained from the supplier.

Social Security Benefits: Greater London

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what changes he intends to make to the national implementation of the household benefit cap as a result of the experience of the pilot project in London.

Mark Hoban: The experience of the phased roll-out of the benefit cap has been used to inform the approach to national implementation in a number of ways, including:
	Through an agreement reached with the Local Authority Association to replicate capping activity over a similar time frame for each local authority in national implementation as that managed by phased roll-out sites;
	Replicating the ramp up approach in phased roll-out with lower capping volumes being passed to each local authority in national implementation during the first week of that activity;
	Extending the approach, where appropriate, that existed in some of the phased roll-out sites around physical co-location of DWP and LA staff to work together and support claimants affected by the cap; in terms of providing co-ordinated support around employment; money and budgetary advice; and housing options, including support to negotiate rent reductions with private landlords;
	Extending the approach to accuracy checking which has been tested in phased roll-out and through its success will be replicated for national implementation, ensuring the strong accuracy achieved to date is maintained;
	The guidance and communication around capping activity has been refined following lessons learned;
	The extent to which the updating of local authority records on households in supported exempt accommodation improves the efficiency of the capping process has been highlighted to all local authorities; and
	In order to ensure that these lessons learned inform all local authorities, DWP has hosted nine regional events with DWP and local authority staff. These events have involved the four phased roll-out sites and has helped those involved in national implementation understand how the approach to phased roll-out has supported a refined and secure approach for delivering the benefit cap from 15 July 2013.

Social Security Benefits: Industrial Diseases

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals have had lump sum payments awarded from the 2008 Diffuse Mesothelioma Scheme clawed back by the Compensation Recovery Unit in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010, (d) 2011 and (e) 2012.

Mark Hoban: The Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU) holds the following information for individuals who have had lump sum payments awarded from the 2008 Diffuse Mesothelioma Scheme clawed back by the CRU:
	
		
			 Financial year Individual cases 
			 2008-09 11 
			 2009-10 94 
			 2010-11 216 
			 2011-12 249 
			 2012-13 256

Social Security Benefits: Northern Ireland

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of proposed introduction of a one-week waiting period for benefits payments in Northern Ireland.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will review the effects of welfare reform in Northern Ireland.

Mark Hoban: Northern Ireland is responsible for its own social security system and the Northern Ireland Assembly is currently considering a separate Northern Ireland Welfare Reform Bill. These questions should, therefore, be addressed to the Minister for Social Development in the Northern Ireland Executive.

State Retirement Pensions

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many contracted-in pension schemes there are in the UK.

Steve Webb: The total number in 2011 (the latest year for which data were available) was 37,960, with the vast majority (33,410) being in small schemes (two to 11 members). The source for these data is the 2012 Occupational Pension Schemes Survey, produced annually by the ONS.
	
		
			 Number of private sector occupational pension schemes with only one section: by size and route to contracting out, 2011, United Kingdom 
			  COSRS COMBS COM PS Total contracted out Total not contracted out 
			 5,000+ 140 10 20 180 80 
			 1,000 to 4,999 450 40 50 540 280 
			 100 to 999 1,600 80 180 1,880 1,690 
			 12 to 99 (1)— (1)— 370 1,470 2,500 
			 2 to 11 (1)— (1)— 1,310 1,490 33,410 
			 Total 3,290 310 1,940 5,560 37,960 
			 (1) Indicates cells that have been suppressed to protect confidentiality. Key: COSRS = Contracted Out Salary Related Scheme; COMBS = Contracted Out Mixed Benefit Scheme; COMPS = Contracted Out Money Purchase Scheme. Notes: 1. Excludes non response. 2. Total contracted out column includes schemes that did not provide information about method (COSRS, COMBS, COMPS) of contracting out. 3. Estimates for very small schemes are subject to considerable uncertainty, so figures for such schemes should be interpreted with caution. Source: Occupational Pension Schemes Survey

Universal Credit: Thames Gateway

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were in receipt of universal credit in Thameside on 31 May 2013.

Mark Hoban: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I provided on 6 June 2013, Official Report, column 1253W, on how many people have claimed universal credit in the pathfinder to date.
	The pathfinder is currently taking place in Ashton-under-Lyne in the borough of Tameside. Future roll-outs will include Thameside. The Department is working to guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure we are able to publish statistics that meet high quality standards at the earliest opportunity. We intend to publish Official Statistics on pathfinder areas in autumn 2013.
	We expect around 7,000 claims to be processed in pathfinders.

Work Capability Assessment

Andrew McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to ensure that Atos interviews are conducted by a person of the same gender as the interviewee.

Mark Hoban: There is no assurance that Atos Healthcare interviews are conducted by a person of the same gender as the interviewee. If the interviewee requests this, Atos Healthcare will accommodate that request.

Work Capability Assessment

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information his Department holds on how many people have committed or attempted suicide whilst awaiting a work capability assessment or appeal since the inception of that assessment.

Mark Hoban: The requested information is not available.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animal Experiments

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding his Department has provided for the development of reduction, refinement and replacement alternatives to the use of animals in scientific procedures in each year between 2009 and 2012; how much of that funding has been provided to the National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research; and if he will make a statement.

David Heath: DEFRA has not provided any funding to the development of reduction, refinement and replacement alternatives to the use of animals in scientific procedures for the years between 2009 and 2012, or towards the National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research. The Home Office is responsible for any such funding.

Animal Welfare

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department plans to begin prosecution proceedings against anyone for possible breaches of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, as reported by Hillside Animal Sanctuary on 18 January 2013.

David Heath: holding answer 27 June 2013
	DEFRA's enforcement body, the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, works with local authority Trading Standards officers, as well as the RSPCA where appropriate to investigate potential breaches of animal welfare legislation. This particular case is currently being investigated by local Trading Standards officers. They will be responsible for deciding in due course whether to take the case to prosecution.

Ash Dieback Disease

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which products are being tested by the Food and Environment Research Agency as potential treatments for Chalara ash dieback.

David Heath: The process to evaluate the possible usefulness against Chalara of various chemical treatments submitted by a number of producers is covered in the Chalara Management Plan, published on 26 March 2013. Based on scientific advice and other European countries' experience of Chalara we are advised against expecting to find a treatment that can be widely applied to protect woodland or treat an infected wood or forest. However, in some circumstances treatments may have a role in protecting individual trees or groups of trees, or reducing production of spores, level of damage and rate of spread.
	Out of a total of more than 80 products that were suggested to DEFRA and the Forestry Commission as possible treatments for ash dieback, 14 will be tested in the laboratory at the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera). Some of these products along with two others, potassium phosphite and urea, will be tested in field studies using potted ash trees. The purpose of these studies is to investigate how effective the products are at preventing infestation by this disease.
	The shortlist of products includes examples of the fungicide groups, that are considered most likely to be effective and, where possible, products with a single active ingredient have been preferred to mixtures for the purpose of the laboratory screen.
	Further details of the actual products and how they were selected are available on the Fera website:
	http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk/plants/plantHealth/pestsDiseases/chalaraInfo.cfm
	Fera will publish progress updates on its website as each element of the chemical trials work is completed. By the end of 2013 Fera expects to have some indication of which products from the 14 shortlisted, might be most effective but these would still need to be subject to more wide-scale testing on mature trees.

Beekeeping

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to introduce farmers in England and Wales to bee-keeping.

David Heath: DEFRA does not work directly with groups of farmers to introduce them to beekeeping. However, the National Bee Unit (NBU) has run initiatives to encourage farmers who have bees on their land to ensure that the beekeepers sign up to BeeBase. BeeBase is the NBU's website, which provides free information and advice for beekeepers.
	The National Farmers Union is an active member of DEFRA's Bee Health Advisory Forum, whose remit is to influence delivery of the Healthy Bees Plan and other issues affecting bee health.
	Additionally, the Bee Farmers Association (BFA) is also a member of this forum and DEFRA has contributed funding to enable the BFA to start an apprenticeship scheme to introduce young people into commercial farming of bees.

Bees

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of levels of honeybees in colonies; if he will take steps to support bee farmers whose colonies have suffered losses to restock; and if he will make a statement.

David Heath: Preliminary reports suggest that the poor summer of 2012 and the prolonged cold spring this year have resulted in significant losses of honey bee colonies across the UK. The National Bee Unit is carrying out its annual survey across England and Wales and will provide data on these losses and other measures of the health of the honey bees later this summer. The indications are that surviving honey bee colonies have built up their populations well in the past month and in most areas a honey crop may be obtained if sunny stable weather conditions prevail.
	While it remains Government policy not to fund restocking following winter losses directly, DEFRA has and will continue to support bee farmers under its bee health programme: providing free advice and training on maintaining healthy bees and in supporting other initiatives being developed such as the Bee Farmers' Association apprenticeship scheme.

Billing

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the financial benefits that could be achieved by paying suppliers early in return for rebates.

Richard Benyon: No assessment has been made of any savings core DEFRA could achieve by paying its suppliers early in return for rebates.
	Core DEFRA aims to pay its suppliers within five days of receiving a valid invoice in compliance with Government policy. This is significantly earlier than the typical payment time of 30 days required by many suppliers.
	Percentage performance against the five-day target for 2012-13 will be published in DEFRA's Annual Report and Accounts.

Birds of Prey

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many licences for the destruction of buzzards and buzzard nests have been issued in the last 12 months; and in which counties such licences were issued.

Richard Benyon: Nature conservation and wildlife licensing is a devolved matter. Natural England is the licensing authority for England. Between 1 June 2012 and 1 June 2013, Natural England granted 12 licences to airports permitting up to 39 buzzards to be killed where airport authorities deemed such action to be essential to tackle a serious risk of birds striking aircraft and putting the safety of the public and air travellers at risk. In practice, it typically only proves necessary to shoot about one-third of the birds permitted.
	During the same period, Natural England granted two licences to remove up to four buzzard nests to prevent serious damage to livestock.
	The buzzard population has increased substantially in the last few decades and there are now estimated to be 57,000 to 80,000 breeding pairs of buzzards in the UK.
	Licensing statistics for England are published on Natural England’s website at:
	www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/regulation/wildlife/licences/statistics.aspx

Birds: Wind Power

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many birds have been killed by wind farm turbines (a) on land and (b) at sea to date.

Gregory Barker: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
	DECC does not hold this data. Potential impacts on birds arising from operation of onshore and offshore wind farms are considered as part of the consenting process at the planning stage. Applications should only be approved if the impact is, or can be made, acceptable.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what written communication he has received from the European Commission on criteria under which field trials for bovine TB vaccination can proceed.

David Heath: EU Commissioner Tonio Borg wrote to the Secretary of State about this on 14 January 2013. The letter can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/183229/bovinetb-letter-paterson.pdf
	I have also placed a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria the pilot badger culls will use to assess humaneness.

David Heath: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Coventry South (Mr Cunningham) on 12 June 2013, Official Report, columns 348-49W.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made to improve the protection and control of all cattle herds in the prevention of the spread of bovine tuberculosis.

David Heath: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 May 2013, Official Report, column 379-80W, to the hon. Member for South Northamptonshire (Andrea Leadsom).

Bovine Tuberculosis

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice he has received from the European Commission on the timeframe for developing and implementing a bovine TB vaccination.

David Heath: EU Commissioner Tonio Borg wrote to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 14 January 2013 setting out the substantial scientific evidence that will be needed before any decision can be taken on lifting the current EU ban on cattle vaccination. For that reason, his view is that it would be reasonable to expect the full process to take 10 years.
	A copy of the letter has already been placed in the Library of the House.

Dangerous Dogs

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the likely reduction of incidents in private places of (a) dogs being dangerously out of control and (b) people being injured by dogs as a result of his proposed changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

David Heath: DEFRA's impact assessment, "Extending the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to Private Property", estimates that there could be anywhere between 50 and 250 more cases per year brought before the courts as a result of the extension of the criminal law to all places. However, it also acknowledges the effects of the new proposed measures to tackle antisocial behaviour which will be used to prevent dogs becoming dangerous and therefore reduce the number of cases reaching court. No estimates have been made of the change in the law on the number of people injured by dogs.

Dogs: Tagging

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding he has allocated to the programme for compulsory microchipping of dogs by 2016; and what steps he plans to take to publicise this programme.

David Heath: Funding for the programme will be subsumed within the allotted funding for animal welfare. In addition, free microchipping is available at centres run by Dogs Trust, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and Blue Cross. Dogs Trust will also make free microchips available to veterinary surgeries.
	We are working with these stakeholders as well as others such as the British Veterinary Association to promote the benefits of microchipping in the lead up to April 2016 on their websites and through their online presences.
	The launch of the compulsory microchipping policy generated significant national print and broadcast coverage earlier this year.
	Since then, we have been using social media to engage with dog owners and promote microchipping. We run a Facebook page promoting the benefits of compulsory microchipping to dog owners and we use this page to promote free chipping events and share case studies and reunification stories. We use Twitter to share information and to answer dog owners' questions about microchipping. We have a Google map with locations of centres offering free chipping, so that dog owners can find a convenient location to get their dog chipped free of charge.
	We are also targeting specialist media and programmes targeted at dog owners as well as the national and regional press to promote the benefits of compulsory microchipping.
	In the run up to 2016, we will be working with veterinarians and welfare organisations to develop a joined up, structured programme of advice and information including posters and leaflets.

Eels

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what change there has been in the number of eels in the last five years; and what steps he has taken to address any such decline.

Richard Benyon: European eel stocks have declined significantly over recent decades. The European eel regulation(1) seeks to achieve stock recovery by requiring member states to develop and implement eel management plans for river basins within their jurisdiction. These should include measures aiming to achieve 40% ‘escapement’ of silver (mature) eel to the sea compared to ‘pristine’ conditions. (Pristine conditions are defined as conditions before declines started and without any anthropogenic impacts such as habitat loss affecting the eels as they grow to maturity in river systems before ‘escaping’ to the sea).
	Member states are required to report progress in implementing the measures outlined in eel management plans and estimated numbers of silver eel escaping on a three-yearly basis. During the first reporting period (2008-11), an estimated average of 1,375t per year of silver eel escaped from UK waters to the sea(2). To establish this figure several sites were sampled, but typically only once during the three-year period, meaning figures for individual years were not developed.
	Estimates have not been developed for the years preceding 2008, before the regulation was in place. However, in order to consider progress against the 40% target, an estimate of silver eel ‘escapement’ in ‘pristine’ conditions has been developed: it is estimated that 7,535t of silver eel would escape in such conditions(3).
	Fisheries management is devolved in the UK and each Administration is responsible for developing and implementing eel management plans for each of its river basin districts, outlining measures specific to that district. Measures typically include careful regulation of eel fishing (including complete cessation where necessary), addressing barriers such as tidal flaps that prevent eel colonising available habitat, and also restocking programmes that involve catching, captive rearing and releasing eels into suitable habitat, which they might not otherwise reach.
	(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1100/2007 of 18 September 2007 establishing measures for the recovery of the stock of European eel.
	(2) This estimate is based on analysis undertaken by Environment Agency, Marine Scotland Science and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (Northern Ireland).
	(3) This estimate is based on analysis undertaken by Environment Agency, Marine Scotland Science and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (Northern Ireland).

Eels

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people worked in eel fishing in (a) 1983, (b) 1993 and (c) 2013.

Richard Benyon: The breakdown for the UK is as follows:
	In England and Wales the number of licensed elver fishermen was 1,537 in 1983, 1,000 in 1993, and 482 in 2013(1). The number of licensed yellow and silver eel fishermen in 2013 is 104(2). We do not have figures for 1983 or 1993, as licences were issued for instruments, not fishermen, at those times.
	In Northern Ireland there were 93 licensed elver fishermen in 1983, 207 in 1993, and 97 in 2013.
	As well as licensed fishermen, other people are or were employed in roles that depend on eel fishing (for example in processing). Figures are not available to indicate how many people work or worked in such roles.
	Figures are not available for Scotland for 1983 and 1993. In 2013, there were no commercial or recreational fisheries for eels in Scotland(3).
	(1 )The 2013 elver season is now closed so this is the final figure.
	(2) The 2013 yellow/silver eel season is not yet closed so this figure may increase.
	(3) The Freshwater Fish Conservation (Prohibition on Fishing for Eels) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 prohibit fishing by any method for eels without a licence from Scottish Ministers. The current position taken by SG is for a presumption against the issue of licenses to fish for eels other than for the purposes of scientific research, monitoring, protecting, improving or developing Scotland's fish stocks. The last operating commercial yellow and silver eel fisheries ceased to operate in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

Floods: Greater London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to question 159799, what estimate he has made of the number of new properties built in areas of risk between February 2010 and October 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: According to the Department for Communities and Local Government’s Land Use Change Statistics, an estimated 9,600 homes (9% of the total number completed) were built in areas of high flood risk in 2010. This is the latest information available.

Floods: Greater London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to question 159799, how much funding he allocated for London’s flood defences in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The London boroughs and the Environment Agency work together as risk management authorities to reduce the risk of flooding in London. Government funds the work through flood defence grant in aid and there are other sources of funding such as local levy, raised by the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.
	Funding allocated to London boroughs and the Environment Agency for investment in flood risk management (i.e. new or improved flood defences and capital maintenance) is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 £ million 
			 Authorities 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 London boroughs 20.9 11 11.8 
			 London tidal defences 9.6 7 4.9 
			 Total 30.5 18 16.7 
			 Source: Environment Agency data. 
		
	
	These figures do not include revenue activities such as routine maintenance carried out by either the Environment Agency or local authorities.
	The London tidal defences figures refer to the investment in the Thames barrier and associated structures downstream of Teddington lock.

Food: Northern Ireland

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Assembly on the promotion of British food producers jointly between England and Northern Ireland.

David Heath: I have met with colleagues in both the NI (Northern Ireland) Assembly and in other UK devolved Administrations. Food and drink promotion is a devolved issue, but I believe there is much that we can do together. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and I certainly fly the flag for the whole of the UK when we attend key overseas trade events.
	Additionally, since November 2011, three products from Northern Ireland have been awarded registered status under the EU protected food names (PFN) scheme (Lough Neagh Eels, Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), Comber Early Potatoes (PGI) and Armagh Bramley Apples (PGI)), and have featured in PFN promotional activities. DEFRA officials continue to work closely with colleagues at the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland (DARDNI) to encourage more NI applications under the PFN scheme.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent meetings officials in his Department have had to discuss the approval of the planting of genetically modified crops.

David Heath: DEFRA officials have discussions from time to time with a wide range of interested parties to inform the Government's policy on GM crops. Decisions on whether to approve the commercial cultivation of GM crops are taken at EU level. The Government will only agree to the planting of GM crops, or the marketing of GM food and feed products, if a robust assessment indicates that it is safe for people and the environment.

Horses: Imports

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2013, Official Report, columns 699-700W, on horses: France, from which country each horse imported from third (non EU) countries was imported from in each of the last four years.

David Heath: holding answer 24 June 2013
	Pursuant to my answer of 20 March 2013, Official Report, columns 699-700W, I can confirm that the number of horses imported into the UK from third (non EU) countries during 2011 was 1,877 and not 6,502, as indicated in the original answer. I apologise for any inconvenience caused by this administrative error.
	A revised grid appears as follows:
	
		
			 Country 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 United Arab Emirates 313 350 427 413 409 
			 Argentina 780 192 425 382 318 
			 Australia 119 131 86 83 97 
			 Bermuda 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Barbados 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Bahrain 0 3 0 0 9 
			 Brazil 47 16 31 19 25 
			 Belarus 0 1 0 0 2 
			 Canada 73 44 69 70 71 
			 Switzerland 1 0 0 . 0 0 
			 Chile 14 24 6 5 10 
			 China 0 0 3 0 0 
			 Egypt 2 3 0 0 0 
			 Hong Kong 53 15 13 16 18 
			 Croatia 20 0 1 6 0 
			 Israel 3 0 0 1 2 
			 Iceland 9 4 6 15 17 
			 Kuwait 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Japan 15 13 7 17 8 
			 Libya 0 3 0 0 0 
			 Mauritius 156 53 0 101 63 
			 Jordan 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Mexico 3 2 0 1 3 
			 Malaysia 8 2 2 0 0 
			 Morocco 0 3 6 5 11 
			 New -Zealand 91 36 55 63 47 
			 Oman 13 22 48 24 141 
			 Peru 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Qatar .17 8 7 13 23 
			 Russian Federation 6 11 10 8 19 
			 Saudi Arabia 2 3 2 4 1 
			 Serbia 0 3 0 0 0 
			 Singapore 6 14 8 7 11 
			 Syria 2 0 0 0 0 
			 Thailand 0 0 0 6 2 
			 Turkey 16 11 17 27 22 
			 Ukraine 12 4 3 0 16 
			 USA 955 828 675 575 647 
			 Uruguay 52 7 5 16 20 
			 South Africa 81 60 99 0 6 
			 Totals 2,871 1,866 2,013 1,877 2,019

Horses: Slaughterhouses

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many horses were slaughtered in UK abattoirs, by horse passport issuing agency, in each of the last four years.

David Heath: DEFRA does not hold the data requested. It only holds data on the total number of horses slaughtered for human consumption. The number of horses slaughtered in the last four full calendar years is as follows:
	
		
			 UK slaughter numbers (as provided by the Food Standards Agency) 
			  UK total Of which: England Of which: Northern Ireland 
			 2009 5,100 5,100 0 
			 2010 8,854 7,919 935 
			 2011 9,011 8,112 899 
			 2012 9,405 8,426 979

Livestock: Transport

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will discuss with his EU counterpart a strategy to replace the long distance transport of live farm animals with a policy whereby animals are reared reasonably near to the farm of birth and slaughtered reasonably near to the farm of rearing; and if he will make a statement.

David Heath: The Government continue to support the principle that the slaughter of livestock should be as close as is practicable to their place of production.
	However, the number one priority under the current EU Commission strategy on the protection of animals during transport, which was endorsed by the majority of member states in June of last year, is for the better enforcement of the existing rules on the transportation of animals (Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005. The strategy precludes any further changes to the Council regulation for the time being.
	Given these circumstances, there would be little to be gained in holding bilateral discussions with my EU counterparts as the hon. Member has suggested.

Milk

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  which milk buyers have not signed up to the Dairy Code;
	(2)  what reasons have been given by those milk buyers who have not yet signed up to the Dairy Code;
	(3)  what proportion of milk by volume sold is now covered by Dairy Code agreements.

David Heath: We understand that at least 85% of UK raw milk production is already covered by the code and milk purchasers who are Dairy UK members are or will soon have all contracts in full compliance with the code.
	Dairy UK has established a public web page providing information from compliant purchasers, which can be viewed at:
	http://www.dairyuk.org/index.php ?option=com_content&view=article&id=316&ltemid=379
	We strongly support the work of Dairy UK and farming unions to increase wider adoption of the code or acceptable alternatives for farmers supplying smaller non-Dairy UK members, by improving understanding or overcoming any individual commercial concerns.

Pigs: Animal Welfare

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the European Commission on levels of compliance with pig welfare conditions in other European nations.

David Heath: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and I met with Tonio Borg, Commissioner for Health and Consumer policy on 17 January 2013 and raised our concerns about the large scale non-compliance across the EU with the partial sow stall ban, which came into force on 1 January 2013. This issue was also discussed at the January Agriculture Council of Ministers. The Secretary of State, following up correspondence earlier in the year wrote to Commissioner Borg in May, seeking a progress report on infringement proceedings against non-compliant member states and urging swift and full compliance as quickly as possible. The Commissioner has since confirmed that infringement proceedings against non-compliant member states are ongoing and progress is being closely monitored by the Commission.
	We have and continue to use every opportunity to press for rapid compliance in other member states, as the priority must be to protect those pig producers across the EU who have invested heavily in converting to more welfare-friendly group housing systems from illegal production.
	Discussions with the Commission and EU member states on the level of compliance with the ban are being held on a monthly basis at meetings of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health.

Schmallenberg Virus

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of the Schmallenberg virus in (a) sheep and (b) cattle; what assessment he has made of whether the virus should be made notifiable; and if he will make a statement.

David Heath: DEFRA funded surveillance over the summer of 2012 identified that the virus had spread across all rural counties in England and Wales. While many animals and farms in GB may have been infected, clinical signs in adult sheep and beef cattle to date have been non-existent. The signs in dairy cattle of a raised temperature, reduced milk yield and in some cases diarrhoea are mild/moderate, short-lived and similar to other endemic diseases due to their non-specific nature. In an individual dairy cow, these mild clinical signs may last up to five days and across the herd as a whole for several weeks. The main impact is in pregnancy on the developing foetus. The virus attacks the developing neurological system and limbs of foetal lambs or calves resulting in malformations such as domed heads, fixed bent limbs and jaw deformities. The affected newborns are often born dead or die shortly after birth. Birthing may be difficult due to the foetal limb presentation and care needs to be taken in assisting the mother, seeking veterinary assistance as appropriate. Post partum aftercare should be provided as with any other difficult birth.
	In considering if a disease should be made notifiable, there needs to be a clear value benefiting disease control in the placing of additional burden on farmers and Government. In terms of control measures, preventing vector spread is very difficult and therefore not a realistic control measure. A vaccine has very recently received provisional marketing authorisation and will be available for use by farmers this summer in advance of the next sheep breeding period. The onus would lie with the farmer to report suspicion of disease and then for Government to intervene. The impact of Schmallenberg virus has to date been shown to be low at a national level, with farms infected showing 2% to 5% of malformed lambs or calves affected and as such, there is no rationale for intervening. Some early lambing flocks where mating periods are synchronised have seen greater impacts. These will now be able to be protected by vaccination. This is a disease with few defined clinical signs in adult animals, making detection difficult. By the time clinical signs are seen in offspring, it is too late to control. It is also possible that notifiying presence of disease on a farm may complicate trade, both with the UK, the EU and for third country partners.
	We therefore consider that making Schmallenberg virus notifiable would be over burdensome and not proportionate to the disease impact. The decision was taken in full consultation with industry and the European Commission.

Sharks: Conservation

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy to ban the sale of shark fin soup in restaurants.

Richard Benyon: The UK Government are aware of the conservation implications of the international trade in shark fins and the need for more stringent controls to ensure any such trade is rooted in sustainable fishing practices. While the UK opposes, and has banned, wasteful finning (removal and retention of shark fins at sea, but discarding the carcass), the Government do not oppose fishing for species where scientific advice indicates that they can be sustainably exploited. We do however promote full utilisation of the shark.
	The UK cannot unilaterally take action to ban shark fin soup without contravening EU trade agreements and World Trade Organisation (WTO) obligations. In addition, the conservation benefits for sharks of implementing a UK wide ban are considered minimal at best.
	However, we are not complacent. We believe the market for shark fin products in the UK is decreasing and we will continue to support campaigns that raise public awareness and change consumer and retailer behaviour.
	We will also continue to work closely with stakeholders, including the Shark Trust and the fishing industry, to ensure sharks are properly managed and conserved globally. We consider that the most effective means of protecting sharks is by continuing to press for a range of international conservation and management measures within the appropriate bodies. This includes pushing for changes to ensure all sharks are landed with their ‘fins naturally attached’ (thus removing the possibility of shark finning occurring) and supporting scientifically robust proposals for regulating the international trade in shark products through the convention on international trade in endangered species (CITES).

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts

Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and (b) local enterprise partnerships on the arts and creative industries.

Edward Vaizey: holding answer 27 June 2013
	The Secretary of State and Ministers hold regular meetings with Ministers from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and there are frequent discussions between Government Ministers and local economic partnerships.
	Local enterprise partnerships such as that of Greater Birmingham and Solihull are fully recognising the important role that culture and the creative industries can play in economic growth.

Betting

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make an estimate of the amount spent in betting shops, before winnings are accounted for, in (a) Glasgow North West constituency, (b) Glasgow, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK in each of the last five years.

Hugh Robertson: Neither the Department nor the Gambling Commission (GC) hold data in the form requested. The measure most commonly used by the GC and DCMS is Gross Gambling Yield, which is the amount retained by licensed betting operators in Great Britain, after the payment of winnings, but before the deduction of the costs of the operation (excluding pool betting); this statistic gives a better indication of gaming behaviours and betting shop patterns. The last complete figures available for betting shops in Great Britain show that the Gross Gambling Yield equalled £2,729 million in 2008-09, £2,647 million in 2009-10, £2,794 million in 2010-11 and £2,846 million in 2011-12. The full year figures for 2012-13 will be published in December 2013. However, due to the way the data are collated, we are not able to provide statistics broken down by area.

Broadband Delivery UK

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will publish the report on Broadband Delivery UK submitted to her Department by Gerry Pennell.

Edward Vaizey: The report submitted by Mr Gerry Pennell concerns Broadband Delivery UK's interactions with suppliers. The Department does not intend to publish the report as it contains commercially confidential information.

Culture, Practices and Ethics of the Press Inquiry

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will place in the Library a copy of (a) the cross-party agreement on the Royal Charter and related matters that was made on 18 March 2013 between the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition and (b) any associated correspondence.

Edward Vaizey: holding answer 27 June 2013
	The cross-party Royal Charter published on 18 March 2013 has been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses. In addition, the Prime Minister's statement to the House on that day, Official Report, column 632, set out the agreement reached.

MITIE Group

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department spends on contracts with MITIE; and how much was spent on contracts with MITIE in each year since 2008.

Hugh Robertson: The amount the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has spent with MITIE, in each year, since 2008, is set out in the table. The Department does not have any current contracts with MITIE.
	
		
			 £ 
			 Name 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total 
			 MITIE Landlord Services Charges 635,135.75 246,297.35 158,461.25 — — 1,039,894.35 
		
	
	
		
			 MITIE Engineering Maintenance Ltd 2,009.00 — — — — 2,009.00 
			 MITIE Managed Services (Southern) Ltd 1,511,822.85 1,874,787.37 318,995.64 — — 3,705,605.86 
			 MITIE Catering Services (London) Ltd 1,961.81 — — — — 1,961.81 
			 Total 2,150,929.41 2,121,084.72 477,456.89 — — 4,749,471.02

Mobile Phones

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which companies supply (a) mobile telephones and (b) mobile data services to her Department.

Hugh Robertson: Mobile telephones are provided by Vodafone and O2. Mobile data services are also provided by Vodafone and O2. Both services are obtained through central contracts via the Government Procurement Service.

Press: Regulation

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many representations were received from (a) groups and (b) individual members of the public in (i) support of and (ii) opposition to the Press BoF Royal Charter in response to the period of openness that closed on 24 May 2013.

Edward Vaizey: holding answer 27 June 2013
	Almost 20,000 responses were received as part of the period of openness. As the PressBoF Charter is currently under consideration it would not be appropriate to publish further detail on responses received at this time.

Press: Regulation

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she has received advice from officials as to whether to put forward the Press BoF Royal Charter to the Privy Council for consideration; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: holding answer 27 June 2013
	The PressBoF Royal Charter petition to the Privy Council Office is being considered by the Department for Culture Media and Sport in the usual way.

Public Lending Right

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  whether her Department conducted an impact assessment of the proposals in the Digital Economy Act 2010 to extend public lending right to e-books and audio books;
	(2)  what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funding to extend public lending right to e-books and audio books by commencing the relevant provisions of the Digital Economy Act 2010;
	(3)  what representations she has received seeking the commencement of the provisions in the Digital Economy Act 2010 that extend public lending right to e-books and audio books.

Edward Vaizey: The Government commissioned an independent review of e-lending in public libraries in England last year and the panel, led by William Sieghart, received evidence on this and related matters from the parties listed in the review:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/an-independent-review-of-e-lending-in-public-libraries-in-england
	The review recommended that public lending right (PLR) be extended by commencing the provisions of the Digital Economy Act 2010 and, on 26 June 2013, HM Treasury announced that in response to the recommendations of the Sieghart Review, the Government will consult on plans to extend the public lending right scheme to cover onsite loans of e-books and audio books, with loans data to be collected from July 2014:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spending-round-2013-documents

S4C

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many times she and Ministers of her Department have met officials of S4C to discuss future funding arrangements since 2010.

Edward Vaizey: Ministers' external meetings are published quarterly on the departmental website and can be found at:
	http://www.transparency.culture.gov.uk/category/other/meetings/

S4C

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received from the Welsh Government in 2013 to date on future funding and governance arrangements for S4C.

Edward Vaizey: We received one representation from the Welsh Government on S4C’s funding arrangements earlier this week.

Termination of Employment

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on how many occasions (a) a compromise agreement, (b) a confidentiality clause and (c) judicial mediation was used when an employee of (i) her Department and (ii) the public bodies for which she is responsible left their employment in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13; and if she will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: The number of occasions (a) a compromise agreement, (b) a confidentiality clause and (c) judicial mediation was used when an employee of my Department left their employment in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13; is shown in the table:
	
		
			 Financial year Number of occasions a compromise agreement was used Number of occasions a confidentiality clause was used Number of occasions a judicial mediation was used 
			 2010-11 0 0 0 
			 2011-12 1 1 0 
			 2012-13 2 2 0 
		
	
	The role and purpose of compromise agreements and confidentiality clauses is outlined in the National Audit Office report, published on 21 June, and available at:
	http://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/10168-001-Confidentiality-clauses-and-payments.pdf

Vacancies

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's vacancy rate was in 2012-13; and what vacancy rate has been assumed for 2013-14.

Hugh Robertson: DCMS has advertised the following numbers of vacancies in the periods specified:
	2012-13: 35 job vacancies were advertised during the year. We do not calculate a vacancy rate.
	2013-14: 16 job vacancies have been advertised to date. We do not assume a vacancy rate during the year.

VisitBritain

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been provided to VisitBritain to promote visits to Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland in each year since 2010.

Hugh Robertson: Tourism is a devolved matter; however, VisitBritain promotes the whole of Britain overseas and develops the visitor economy. VisitBritain promotes Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland through their marketing campaigns, PR and digital work. VisitBritain does not allocate funding to promote specific destinations. Instead, it works with tourist boards to promote tourism across the whole of the UK. In 2013-14 VisitBritain received £22.5 million grant in aid funding, and an additional £12 million in GREAT money, to promote the whole of the UK as a destination.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether her Department plans to support an increase in the number of climate stations and training of hydrogeologists in Africa.

Lynne Featherstone: DFID is helping to improve the quality and type of hydrometeorological data available and to develop African technical expertise. DFID supports the Africa Climate Policy Centre under the ClimDev initiative. One of the aims of the Africa Climate Policy Centre is to assess climate monitoring requirements across the continent. To improve climate information, the programme is identifying major gaps, securing historical data, improving data storage and identifying strategic investments in climate monitoring stations. DFID also supports work at the country level across Africa in areas where the need for climate information and expertise is particularly pressing.

Burma

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to ensure that non-governmental organisations and UN agencies have the capacity to deliver basic health care in Burma, particularly to the poorest and most vulnerable people.

Alan Duncan: DFID's activities for health in Burma are primarily delivered through the multi-donor health fund, the 3MDG Fund. The 3MDG Fund provides funding to a range of partners, including the UN and non-government organisations to provide health care to the poorest and most vulnerable. Priority is given to health care which addresses the major causes of illness and death for the poor of Burma, such as HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and to care which is delivered to communities in remote rural areas.
	DFID also works in conflict-affected areas such as Kachin, Rakhine and along the Thai-Burma border to help meet the health needs of poor and vulnerable people there.

Burma

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in (a) Rakhine State and (b) Kachin State in Burma.

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her most recent assessment is of the humanitarian situation in Burma.

Alan Duncan: I visited Rakhine State on 18 and 19 June to see the humanitarian situation for myself. I met UN agencies, local officials, political and community leaders and made visits to several camps for internally displaced people (IDP) to see DFID's work. The number of displaced persons is estimated at around 140,000 across 89 locations, although this does not take into account some isolated villages. While aid is increasingly getting to where it is needed, it is difficult for humanitarian agencies to gain access to all of the affected areas. Restrictions on movement mean that it is difficult for some communities, particularly Rohingya and Kaman, to get access to areas where they earned a livelihood. On 15 May DFID announced a £4.4 million package of humanitarian support which includes nutrition, drinking water, sanitation, protection and camp coordination.
	In Kachin State, consistent humanitarian access remains a concern, especially in non-government controlled areas. There are thought to be around 100,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), of whom more than half are in hard to reach non-government controlled areas. The UK is the largest bilateral humanitarian donor in Kachin State, where £3.5 million of humanitarian aid is helping to meet the needs of around 27,000 internally displaced people.

Developing Countries: Agriculture

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether her Department plans to support the formation of farmer organisations.

Lynne Featherstone: DFID already supports farmer organisations through our agricultural growth, wealth creation and livelihoods programmes, for example in Burma. We also support farmer organisations through our "making markets work for the poor" activities, for example in Tanzania. Bilateral programmes, for example in Ethiopia and Ghana, are planning to provide support to farmer organisations. Our multilateral funding on agriculture, for example through the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme, funds country-owned plans which sometimes include specific support to farmer organisations.

Developing Countries: Agriculture

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans her Department has to ensure that the agricultural extension workers whose work her Department supports address the issue of land degradation in their work.

Lynne Featherstone: Support to agricultural extension is delivered through NGOs and other civil society organisations, private sector company partnerships, investment in key multilateral organisations and support for agricultural research initiatives. DFID plans to contribute £63.5 million in the next two financial years to the World Bank-led Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme. In at least 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, DFID is investing in smallholders. Soil degradation can be a significant threat their productivity, so where appropriate, extension activities are focused on soil and water conservation as a major priority for sustainable, climate-smart development.

Ecuador

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will offer support to the government of Ecuador in preserving the Yasuni rainforest reserve.

Lynne Featherstone: The UK Government recognise the importance of forests in supporting livelihoods, protecting biodiversity and mitigating climate change. The UK does not provide bilateral development assistance to Ecuador, nor is it one of the priority countries for bilateral assistance on forests through the UK's International Climate Fund.

Mobile Phones

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which companies supply (a) mobile telephones and (b) mobile data services to her Department.

Alan Duncan: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 11 November 2012, Official Report, column 322W.

Overseas Aid

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  if she will publish details of any plans her Department has to establish a UK Development Bank;
	(2)  whether any steps have been taken by her Department to consider the establishment of a UK Development Bank.

Justine Greening: As the nature of development changes, DFID continues to assess new and existing instruments.

Overseas Aid

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the use of the international development budget to support military operations.

Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill (Mr Clarke) on 3 June, Official Report, column 886W.

Overseas Aid

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what definition of official development assistance the UK uses; and whether this definition has been revised for spending between 2012-13 and 2015-16.

Justine Greening: The UK uses the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) definition of Official Development Assistance (ODA). There have been no major revisions to the definition of ODA since 1972.

Syria

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent reports she has received on the number of Syrian refugees currently in (a) Lebanon, (b) Jordan, (c) Turkey, (d) Iraq and (e) North Africa; and what reports she has received on the number of displaced people within Syria.

Justine Greening: The UN estimates there are currently almost 1.7 million refugees in the region, including 560,000 in Lebanon, 489,000 in Jordan, 387,000 in Turkey, 159,000 in Iraq, 86,000 in Egypt and 12,000 refugees in North Africa. There are approximately 6.8 million people in need in Syria, of whom 4.25 million have been displaced.

Syria

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to provide relief and assistance to Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

Justine Greening: To date the UK has provided a total of £19.5 million to support the refugee response in Lebanon. This funding is already providing support including food for almost 20,000 refugees, shelter assistance and financial support to 4,000 people as well as safe drinking water and sanitation services to 40,000 people, including refugees and vulnerable host communities. We have also funded a humanitarian adviser to work with the Government of Lebanon, to support them in their co-ordination of the refugee response.
	The Prime Minister announced a further £175 million for Syria at the G8. Further details on allocation of this funding will be announced shortly.

Syria

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the funding and capacity shortfall within UNHCR to register and assist Syrian refugees entering Lebanon.

Justine Greening: On 7 June, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) launched its revised appeal for the countries hosting refugees from Syria, which totalled £3.8 billion, including £1.2 billion appealed for to meet needs in Lebanon. To date, the UN has received $321 million to support the refugee response in Lebanon, meaning the appeal for Lebanon is currently 26% funded.
	The Government of Lebanon also appealed for a further $449 million to help them cope with the growing needs. UNHCR have made improvements to registration in recent months, and are working along with other humanitarian agencies to assist refugees in need in Lebanon. However, in order to continue meeting the rapidly growing needs in Lebanon, UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies urgently need further funding.
	The Prime Minister announced a further £175 million for Syria at the G8. Further details on allocation of this funding will be announced shortly.

Syria

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she made of humanitarian needs in Syria and neighbouring countries; and if she will consider providing additional funding to the UN Syria Emergency Response Fund that channels resources to humanitarian partners.

Justine Greening: The UN estimates 6.8 million people in need inside Syria and a further 1.7 million refugees in the region. At the G8 summit, the Prime Minister announced that the UK was doubling its funding for Syria and the region, announcing a further £175 million. Our funding to date includes £2 million to the UN's Emergency Response Fund for Syria.

World Population Day

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures or events her Department is planning to mark World Population Day in July 2013.

Lynne Featherstone: Lord Ahmad will speak on DFID's behalf at a World Population Day event being held on 10 July, hosted by the all-party parliamentary group for population, development and reproductive health and the International Planned Parenthood Federation. The theme this year is "Healthy Lives: Young women, rights and pregnancy".

HEALTH

Abortion

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy that counselling should be undertaken before an abortion takes place.

Anna Soubry: The Government believes that counselling should be available for women prior to undergoing a termination of pregnancy but it is not going to become compulsory.
	The Framework for Improving Sexual Health in England (March 2013), has an ambition that all women requesting an abortion should be offered the opportunity to discuss their options and choices with a trained counsellor.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by the NHS on alcohol-related hospital admissions in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2009-10.

Anna Soubry: An internal departmental analysis of the costs of alcohol-related hospital admissions estimated that the national health service spent £1.8 billion on alcohol-related hospital admissions in 2009-10.
	As this was bespoke piece of work, the figures for 2010-13 are not available.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what amount was spent by NHS bodies and local authorities on (a) drug abuse and (b) alcohol abuse (i) prevention and (ii) treatment in each of the last three years; and what amount has been spent on such services in 2013-14 to date.

Anna Soubry: Figures on actual national health service and local authority spending on drug and alcohol treatment and prevention between 2010-11 and 2012-13 and year-to-date spend on these services in 2013-14 are not collected centrally.
	The Department allocated funds, via the pooled treatment budget, to support local areas for drug treatment until March 2013. This information has been placed in the Library. In 2012-13 an additional £32 million was provided via the drug interventions programme.
	From April 2013, alcohol and drug prevention, treatment and recovery activity are funded from a ring-fenced grant intended to fund all local authorities' public health responsibilities.
	In 2013-14, this grant totals £2.7 billion. A table showing the breakdown of the public health grant to each local authority in England has also been placed in the Library. Each local authority is free to determine their actual spend on alcohol and drug prevention, treatment and recovery based on an assessment of need. They will be required to report their spending in these areas on an annual basis.

Ambulance Services

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce compensation payments for patients made to wait over an hour for an ambulance.

Anna Soubry: There are no plans to introduce compensation payments for patients made to wait over an hour for an ambulance.

Ambulance Services

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average length of time a patient waited for an ambulance in (a) Liverpool, Walton constituency, (b) Liverpool city-region, (c) Merseyside and (d) England was in each quarter of the last five years.

Daniel Poulter: The information requested is not collected in the format requested. Information on the median time to treatment a patient waited for an ambulance from North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust in each month since 2011-12 is shown in the following table for category A (Red 1/Red 2) calls only. Category A calls are divided into Red 1, immediately life threatening, and Red 2, serious but less immediately time critical. No data are collected for Category C calls. As we are supplying the median, it is not statistically correct to combine medians to get a quarterly or national position. Data on median time to treatment is only collected at ambulance trust level and was first collected in 2011-12.
	
		
			 North West Ambulance Service Trust median time to treatment for category A (Red 1/Red 2) calls (minutes and seconds)( 1) 
			  2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 
			 April 4 mins 9 secs 5 mins 35 secs 5 mins 20 secs 
			 May 4 mins 59 secs 5 mins 40 secs — 
			 June 5 mins 9 secs 5 mins 8 secs — 
			 July 4 mins 58 secs 5 mins 7 secs — 
			 August 4 mins 41 secs 5 mins 12 secs — 
			 September 4 mins 49 secs 5 mins 19 secs — 
			 October 4 mins 52 secs 5 mins 22 secs — 
			 November 4 mins 52 secs 5 mins 26 secs — 
			 December 5 mins 1 sec 5 mins 39 secs — 
			 January 4 mins 49 secs 5 mins 27 secs — 
			 February 5 mins 3 secs 5 mins 33 secs — 
			 March 5 mins. 0 secs 5 mins 33 secs — 
			 (1 )Data supplied by Analytical Service (Operations), NHS England

Animal Experiments

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding his Department has provided for the development of reduction, refinement and replacement alternatives to the use of animals in scientific procedures in each year between 2009 and 2012; how much of that funding has been provided to the National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The Department's National Institute for Health Research focuses on clinical and health services research. It does not therefore fund scientific procedures on animals or work to replace, refine or reduce (3Rs) the use of animals in scientific procedures.
	Estimated expenditure by the Health Protection Agency on 3Rs work is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  £000 
			 2009-10 316 
			 2010-11 317 
			 2011-12 435 
			 2012-13 139 
		
	
	This expenditure supported intramural work.

Anti-depressants: Prisoners

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions for benzodiazepines, Z drugs, SSRIs or other antidepressants have been issued to inmates in UK prisons in each of the last five years.

Norman Lamb: This information is not collected centrally.

Cancer

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps will be taken by his Department and NHS England to ensure that health providers and commissioners act on cancer patients' feedback;
	(2)  what criteria will be used to measure and assess the performance of cancer strategic clinical networks.

Anna Soubry: The patient feedback in the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey (NCPES) 2011-12, published in August 2012, continues to support both commissioners and providers to drive and inform local service improvement.
	The trust level reports provided benchmarked data both nationally and between teams which supports providers to identify priority improvement areas and enables clinical commissioning groups to better commission high quality cancer services for local populations. It is anticipated that national and trust level reports of the NCPES 2012-13 will be published in summer 2013.
	The Single Operating Framework (SOP) for Strategic Clinical Networks (SCNs), published in November 2012 sets out how effectiveness and performance of SCNs will be measured. NHS England, working with commissioners and other key partners, will evaluate SCNs based on a structure-process-outcome model. Structure covers areas such as governance arrangements and process covers the functions the SCNs are expected to fulfil, such as having an agreed annual programme of quality improvement based on the national priorities. In terms of outcomes, progress in local areas against the relevant metrics in the NHS Outcomes Framework and Commissioning Outcomes Framework will be incorporated into the assessment of network performance as a proxy of network effectiveness. A copy of the SOP has already been placed in the Library.

Cancer

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of his Department's programme of improving the experience of cancer patients.

Anna Soubry: The results of the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey (NCPES) 2011-12, published in August 2012, showed that 98 trusts had improved on their results from the 2010 survey and overall 88% of patients surveyed rated their overall care as excellent or very good. On most questions in the 2011-12 survey, scores had improved on the previous year. The 2011-12 Survey report provides more detailed information and a copy has already been placed in the Library.
	It is anticipated that national and trust level reports of the NCPES 2012-13 will be published in summer 2013.

Cancer: Drugs

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to avoid variations in patients' access to medicines just before or just after the end of the current Cancer Drugs Fund arrangements.

Norman Lamb: NHS England has developed a single national list of cancer drugs that will be routinely funded through the Cancer Drugs Fund. This should lead to improved consistency in access and improved speed of access to most cancer medicines not routinely funded by the national health service.
	We are committed to ensuring that arrangements are in place to protect individual patients receiving treatment through the Fund as the planned end of the Fund approaches.
	In the context of developing new pricing arrangements for branded medicines, we are also exploring ways in which patients can continue to benefit from innovative cancer drugs at a cost that represents value to the NHS.

Cancer: Drugs

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from NHS England about the future of the Cancer Drugs Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: In the context of developing new pricing arrangements for branded medicines, we are exploring ways in which patients can continue to benefit from innovative cancer drugs at a cost that represents value to the national health service. NHS England is involved in this work.

Colorectal Cancer

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the number of home testing kits used by men to detect bowel cancer returned after use.

Anna Soubry: The pilot of the original NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (NHS BCSP) showed that men were less likely than women to complete a testing kit. That is why the Department funded the Men's Health Forum (MHF) to undertake a three year study on the uptake of bowel cancer screening in men. The project culminated in the report, 'Slow on the uptake? Encouraging male participation in the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme'. The report can be found by doing a search on the Men's Health Forum website.
	The main recommendations of the report were about the importance of general practitioner and other primary care staff and the importance of spouses and partners in men's decision-making about the test and whether they should complete a testing kit. Based on their report the MHF has developed an intervention to go with invitations to men urging them to talk to somebody before deciding whether or not to do the test.
	This idea has been taken up by the NHS BCSP in Manchester, who have developed the leaflet—'Thinking about bowel cancer screening? Don't just think. Talk about it'. The MHF report has also been shared widely around other local NHS BCSPs, and has been presented to the National Cancer Equality Initiative and the Bowel Screening Advisory Committee.
	Going forward, addressing inequalities in cancer screening will be a matter for Public Health England (PHE), the expert national public health agency which fulfils the Secretary of State's statutory duty to protect health and address inequalities, and executes his power to promote the health and wellbeing of the nation.
	NHS Cancer Screening Programmes, now part of the PHE Health and Wellbeing Directorate, are contributing to work to ensure that health equity is integrated within screening programmes, and to identify and promote areas of good practice to achieve this.

Dementia

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in each age group were diagnosed with dementia in each of the last five years.

Norman Lamb: Information on dementia diagnosis by age is not collected centrally. Information on the total number of people in England with a diagnosis of dementia is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Prevalence of dementia in England 
			  List size (All patients). Number of practices participating in QOF Number of patients on dementia register Prevalence (percentage) 
			 2007-08 54,009,831 8,294 220,246 0.41 
			 2008-09 54,310,660 8,229 232,430 0.43 
			 2009-10 54,836,561 8,305 249,463 0.45 
			 2010-11 55,169,643 8,245 266,697 0.48 
			 2011-12 55,525,732 8,123 293,738 0.53 
			 Source: Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF)

Dentistry

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many training placements have been available for dental graduates over the last five years; and how many such placements were awarded to (a) UK graduates and (b) overseas and EU graduates;
	(2)  what recent assessment his Department has made of the availability of training placements for UK dental graduates.

Daniel Poulter: Up until 2012, when a national recruitment scheme was introduced in England, foundation trainees were recruited locally under the oversight of the 11 postgraduate dental deans in England. When the English national scheme was established Wales decided to join, so the 2012 figures encompass places in both England and Wales.
	Information is not held centrally about the nationality of dentists who were successful in obtaining places before 2012. Such information as is available is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Dental foundation training places: England 2008-12, England and Wales 2012(1) 
			  Foundation training places funded Places filled by European Economic Area dentists Places filled by other overseas dentists Total dentists placed 
			 2008 626 — — 626 
			 2009 659 — — 659 
			 2010 (2)858 — — 858 
			 2011 868 — — 868 
			 2012 (3)951 38 3 951 
			 (1 )Figures are from England Postgraduate Dental Deans. (2 )The step increase in 2010 was to provide for the increased number of graduates expected from English dental schools as a result of the increase in annual admissions quota for English dental schools that was made in 2005. (3 )Includes 60 places in Wales. 
		
	
	In recent years there has been pressure on the availability of places for English (and other United Kingdom) graduates as significant numbers of overseas dentists, including dentists from countries in the European Economic Area, have competed for foundation training places and have sometimes been ranked higher than home applicants.
	Health Education England is keeping the situation with regard to the 2013 cohort of graduates under close review.

Drugs

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage a greater production of drugs for rare illnesses; and what incentives his Department offers pharmaceutical companies to increase development of such drugs.

Norman Lamb: The European Union offers a range of incentives to encourage the development of medicines for rare diseases in order to address the unmet clinical need in the form of orphan drug legislation (Regulation (EC) No 141/2000). These incentives include market exclusivity (for 10 years), the provision of scientific advice specifically tailored for orphan medicinal products and fee reductions and waivers for regulatory procedures.
	Applications for the designation of orphan medicines are reviewed by the European Medicines Agency through the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP). Via the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the United Kingdom takes an active role in the decision making process at the COMP, ensuring applications for Orphan Drug designation of potential drug candidates for rare diseases are appropriately recognised, encouraging companies to develop their products further.
	For drug licensing, it is compulsory for designated orphan medicinal products to use the centralised procedure to gain a marketing authorisation. A marketing authorisation application will be sent by the company directly to the European Medicines Agency, to be assessed by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP). The UK is fully represented at the CHMP, ensuring that applications for a Marketing Authorisation (MA) for an Orphan Drug are thoroughly and rapidly evaluated for quality, safety and efficacy and a MA is granted without undue delay for the treatment of rare diseases.

Fluoride: Drinking Water

Mike Thornton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2013, Official Report, column 149W, on fluoride: drinking water, whether any assessment to add fluoride to drinking water in Southampton and South West Hampshire is in place; and what reports he has received of whether any such proposal is part of an existing scheme.

Anna Soubry: Prior to April 2013 South Central Strategic Health Authority assessed the potential benefit to health if fluoride were to be added to the drinking water in Southampton and South West Hampshire, and whether it was feasible to do so.
	Public Health England is continuing to review the matter.

Glaucoma

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people have been diagnosed with glaucoma in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what the age group of those with glaucoma was in each of the last five years.

Daniel Poulter: This information is not available in the format requested.
	The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued a clinical guideline on glaucoma. NICE estimate that around 2% of people older than 40 in the United Kingdom have glaucoma, and that glaucoma accounts for around 10% of blindness registrations in the UK.

Health Services

Kevin Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on its priorities for new indicators for the Quality and Outcomes Framework.

Anna Soubry: The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has not held discussions with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on the introduction of new indicators into the Quality and Outcomes Framework.
	NICE is responsible for managing the independent process for developing and reviewing the evidence base for the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) clinical and public health-related indicators. NICE'S independent advisory committee recommends new indicators or changes to existing indicators. Recommendations from NICE are fed into the negotiations on the General Medical Service GP contract.
	NHS Employers then negotiate with the General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association on which of the published indicators should be applied nationally and what the financial value and payment thresholds for those indicators should be. NHS Employers negotiate on behalf of NHS England and the devolved Administrations.

Health Services: Immigrants

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to limit access to health services for immigrants and seek back payment costs for services.

Anna Soubry: Entitlement to free national health service hospital treatment is limited to those who are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom or exempt from charges under regulations. Chargeable migrants provided with urgent treatment before they have paid, who do not clear any outstanding debt, may be subject to debt collection proceedings and may be refused a new visa or extension of stay.
	Following a major review, the Department will shortly consult on a number of proposals to change the rules and procedures on charging visitors and migrants for health services, including improving how the NHS can identify, charge and recover charges where they should apply. The Department has no plans to deny necessary, access to health services.

Herbal Medicine

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to implement statutory regulation of herbal practitioners via the Health and Care Professions Council.

Daniel Poulter: The legislation around this policy is complex and there are a number of issues that have arisen which we need to work through. We appreciate that the delay is causing concern. The Department will make an announcement on the progress of this policy once the issues have been resolved.

Hospitals: Standards

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the link between patient experience and staff satisfaction.

Daniel Poulter: We know that staff who feel engaged and valued in an open and supportive working environment deliver better care and support for patients, and this theme was reiterated in the initial Government response to the Francis report. In particular there are a number of academic studies which show a clear link between staff survey results and the quality of NHS services.
	Patient and staff feedback, including a suite of patient experience surveys and the annual NHS staff survey, is now the responsibility of NHS England. A number of elements of its programme of work have been informed by the evidence that demonstrates the links between staff experience and the performance of health care providers. In particular, NHS England is committed to implementing the Friends and Family Test for both patients and staff. The information they gather from patient and staff feedback as described above will allow NHS England to continue to assess the link between patient experience and staff satisfaction.

Lung Cancer

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment his Departments has made of access to treatment for patients with lung cancer in the NHS; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all lung cancer patients have access to a clinical nurse specialist;
	(3)  what assessment his Department has made of progress in improving access to treatment for lung cancer patients since May 2010.

Anna Soubry: In January 2011 we published ‘Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer’. Backed by over £750 million over four years, the strategy set out an ambition to save an additional 5,000 lives every year by 2014-15 through earlier diagnosis of cancer and improved access to treatment for all cancers, including lung. Earlier diagnosis of lung cancer will mean that more patients can benefit from curative treatment.
	We know from the National lung Cancer Audit 2012 that there have been increases in curative surgery for lung cancer patients. The audit report supports providers and commissioners and NHS England to reduce variation in services and drive improvement locally. The next audit is due for publication in December 2013.
	The evaluation of the regional pilot of the lung cancer symptom awareness campaign held in 2011 also showed that more cancers were diagnosed at an earlier stage, and there was more access to lung resection surgery. In preparing the national health service for the forthcoming lung cancer campaign, we have advised them about the possible increased demand for lung cancer treatment services. We will be fully evaluating the impact of the campaign on treatment levels.
	We are also providing improved access to treatment through other means, such as the Cancer Drugs Fund, through which over 30,000 patients have benefited since October 2010. With the development of the chemotherapy dataset, we will shortly have detailed information about chemotherapy drug treatment for lung cancer patients.
	In March 2012 the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published the Lung cancer Quality Standard. This quality standard describes markers of high-quality, cost-effective care that, when delivered collectively, should contribute to improving the effectiveness, safety and experience of care for people with lung cancer. The standard contains 12 quality statements about lung cancer care, and statement 4 sets outs that:
	“People with known or suspected lung cancer have access to a named lung cancer clinical nurse specialist who they can contact between scheduled hospital visits.”
	In the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2011-12, 91% of lung cancer patients reported having a clinical nurse specialist, compared to 87% for all cancers.

Lung Cancer

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence relating to its planned review of access to treatments for non small-cell lung cancer.

Norman Lamb: We have had no such discussions. As an independent body, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is responsible for the development of its guidance to the national health service.
	NICE has appraised a number of technologies for non-small-cell lung cancer.
	NICE is currently reviewing its technology appraisals of erlotinib for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (TA162) and gefitinib for the second-line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (TA175) with a view to producing updated technology appraisal guidance which will cover the use of both products for treating non-small-cell lung cancer that has progressed following prior chemotherapy. NICE currently expects to issue revised final guidance in June 2014.

Mental Illness: Prisoners

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people who are mentally ill were imprisoned in (a) 2012 and (b) the first three months of 2013 because there was not a place available for them in a psychiatric hospital.

Norman Lamb: The information requested is not collected centrally.

NHS: Ancillary Staff

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many care assistants in each region of the UK are on zero hour contracts.

Norman Lamb: The Department does not collect this information centrally.
	Skills for Care, the partner in the sector skills council for social care, in England, has provided the following estimates on adult social care workers by each region.
	Skills for Care is an employer-led workforce development organisation and is responsible for the strategic development of the adult social care workforce in England. Skills for Care do not collect any data for the devolved Administrations and the devolved Administrations have their own equivalent organisations.
	
		
			 Estimated number of adult social care workers on zero-hours contracts, by each English region 
			 Region Estimated number of workers on zero-hours contracts 
			 Eastern 41,000 
			 East Midlands 23,000 
			 London 56,000 
			 North East 17,000 
			 North West 37,000 
			 South East 50,000 
			 South West 27,000 
			 West Midlands 30,000 
		
	
	
		
			 Yorkshire and Humber 27,000 
			 England 307,000 
			 Source: Skills for Care workforce estimates 2011, NMDS-SC May 2013

NHS: Anniversaries

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what events he (a) has been invited to and (b) plans to attend to mark the 65th anniversary of the National Health Service;
	(2)  how he plans to mark the 65th anniversary of the National Health Service.

Daniel Poulter: The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has not received a specific invitation to mark the 65th anniversary of the national health service
	The Secretary of State will be celebrating the 65th birthday of the NHS by combining his programme of personal work with frontline NHS staff, with a specific visit to a NHS hospital on 5 July.

NHS: Redundancy

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how long it will take for redundancies in the NHS since 2010 to break even and be cost neutral.

Daniel Poulter: The payback period for redundancies made by national health service organisations is a matter for individual employers. This information is not held centrally.
	In relation to the modernisation of the health and care system, by the end of 2011-12 savings were expected to have exceeded the total forecast redundancy costs up to 2015. This was confirmed with the publication of the 2011-12 administration costs outturn, which was £662 million lower than forecast in the published impact assessment, further increasing the level of savings from reforms.
	The final impact assessment for the Health and Social Care Bill estimated that, at 2010-11 prices, the savings from the reforms would be as set out in the following table and that the redundancy costs between 2010-11 and 2014-15 were most likely to be £810 million.
	
		
			 Estimated savings from the Health and Social Care Bill, 2010-11 to 2014-15 
			  Savings (£ million) 
			 2010-11 240 
			 2011-12 643 
			 2012-13 887 
			 2013-14 1,219 
			 2014-15 1,500 
			 Total 4,489 
			 Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest million. Source: Co-ordinating document for the final impact assessment Health and Social Care Bill. A copy of this document has already been placed in the Library.

Obesity

Kevin Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with Public Health England on its responsibility to share information and expertise with local authorities to help them make improvements in the population's obesity outcomes.

Andy Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with Public Health England regarding reducing the burden of ill health associated with obesity; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The Department and Public Health England (PHE) are clear that tackling obesity is a shared priority. Ministers hold regular discussions to ensure that responsibilities are clear and are discharged appropriately.
	PHE's role is to work with, support and help local authorities to tackle obesity. To achieve this PHE will take learning from existing approaches, and, working with a range of partners, develop evidenced-based approaches which will support local authorities. Information about progress for each local area will be available through the Public Health Outcomes Framework indicators.
	PHE is responsible for nationally-led initiatives to tackle obesity including marketing campaigns such as Change4Life and nationally co-ordinated initiatives, for example the National Child Measurement Programme and NHS health checks.

Obesity

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that initiatives to tackle obesity focus on management of obesity and excess weight as well as prevention.

Anna Soubry: The Government's ‘Call to action on obesity in England’ sets out our approach to tackling overweight and obesity in the new public health and national health service systems. This approach recognises the importance of both preventing obesity and supporting people in reaching and maintaining a healthy weight. In England, local authorities have received ring-fenced funding to support them in improving the health of their local populations, which may include the commissioning of weight management services. Public Health England will support local areas in commissioning these services. Health and well-being boards will bring local partners together and enable them to develop agreed care pathways.
	NHS England is responsible for commissioning severe and complex obesity services and has set out its policy on this.
	A copy of ‘Call to action on obesity in England’ has already been placed in the Library.

Orthopaedics

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in England and Wales have opted for amputation of feet or legs due to continuing mobility problems in the last three years; and what the age group is of such people.

Norman Lamb: Information is not held centrally on the number of people who have opted for amputation due to continuing mobility problems.
	The numbers of finished consultant episodes in England in the last three years where an amputation of a toe, foot or leg has been recorded are as set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Activity in English national health service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			 Age band 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 0 to 9 71 68 75 
			 10 to 19 76 69 78 
			 20 to 29 157 172 175 
			 30 to 39 387 380 360 
			 40 to 49 987 1,043 1,057 
			 50 to 59 1,784 1,883 1,963 
			 60 to 69 2,966 3,169 3,048 
			 70 to 79 3,513 3,569 3,546 
			 80 to 89 2,407 2,407 2,385 
			 90+ 334 386 381 
			 Unknown 60 46 56 
			 Total 12,742 13,192 13,124 
			 Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre 
		
	
	This is a devolved matter; the Department therefore only holds data for England.

Overseas Aid

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which projects administered by his Department were UK Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) attributable; what the total value of his Department's contribution to UK ODA was in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012; and what the value of that contribution will be in 2013.

Anna Soubry: The Department makes an annual subscription to the World Health Organisation as its overseas development assistance contribution. The amounts paid for the annual contributions for 2010 to 2013 were:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2010 18.96 
			 2011 19.37 
			 2012 19.46 
			 2013 19.48

Pregnant Women: Alcoholic Drinks

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to promote abstinence from alcohol during pregnancy; and if he will work with the devolved assemblies to begin a UK-wide publicity strategy of this policy.

Anna Soubry: UK chief medical officers' advice is that women should avoid alcohol if they are pregnant or trying to conceive.
	If women do choose to drink, our advice is that it is best to minimise the risk to the baby by not drinking more than one to two units of alcohol once or twice a week, and by not getting drunk.
	In England, the Department's Start4life campaign provides advice to pregnant women on establishing healthy habits to give their babies the best start in life and reduce the risk of poor health in life. As part of this campaign, the Department has launched a leaflet that includes information on alcohol and the reasons why it is best avoided in pregnancy.
	On 18 May 2012, the Government launched the National Health Service Information Service for Parents. This digital service for parents provides regular NHS and other quality assured advice for both mothers and fathers on staying healthy in pregnancy, preparing for birth and looking after their baby, and includes advice on risks of drinking before conception and during pregnancy.
	The Government are also committed to improving the labelling of alcoholic drinks, which would help make people more aware of how much alcohol they are drinking, what the guidelines are and what the risks are, including for those who are pregnant.
	As part of the Public Health Responsibility Deal, alcohol retailers and producers have a responsibility to raise this awareness for those who drink and have committed to putting the warning 'Avoid alcohol if pregnant or trying to conceive', or an alternative logo, on 80% of labels on shelf by 2013.
	Responsibilities for matters such as health education and campaigns in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are for the devolved Administrations.

Prosopagnosia

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the level of prosopagnosia in the UK; what assistance he makes available to people with that condition; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: The Department has made no estimate of the level of prosopagnosia, a condition sometimes called “face blindness”, in the United Kingdom. People who are concerned that they may be affected by prosopagnosia should discuss the matter with their general practitioner.
	We understand that NHS Choices will be including information about prosopagnosia in the A to Z of medical conditions on its website later this year. This will help to promote better understanding among the wider general public and ensure that people with prosopagnosia receive the recognition and support they need.

Radiotherapy

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the waiting time for radiotherapy is in England; and what comparative assessment he has made of this figure with that in (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales.

Anna Soubry: In England, patients should wait a maximum of 31 days for their definitive treatment following a diagnosis of cancer, including where that treatment is radiotherapy. In the most recent period for which statistics are available (Quarter 4 2012-13), data published by NHS England show that 98.3% of people began their first definitive treatment within one month (31 days) of diagnosis for all cancers. This is 2.3% above the level of expected performance of 96%.
	Patients should also experience a maximum wait of 31 days for a second or subsequent treatment if that treatment is a course of radiotherapy. Data for the same period show that 98.1% of patients waited 31 days or less for the second or subsequent treatment where that treatment was radiotherapy. This is 4.1% above the level of expected performance of 94%.
	The Department has made no comparative assessment of radiotherapy waiting times in England against those in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Reflexology

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the reflexology sector on the use of reflexology as a method of pain relief.

Norman Lamb: There have been no discussions with the reflexology sector on the use of reflexology as a method of pain relief.
	Clinical responsibility for an individual's health condition rests with their general practitioner, who must therefore be able to justify clinically any treatment s/he refers someone to.

School Milk

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent representations he has received on the proposed national contract for the administration of the Nursery Milk Scheme;
	(2)  what pricing will be used by his Department for the proposed national contract for the Nursery Milk Scheme;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the effect on farmers of the proposed national contract for the administration of the Nursery Milk Scheme.

Daniel Poulter: As part of the consultation process we engaged with a wide range of stakeholders, including parents, childcare providers and milk producers. We also engaged specifically with representatives of the dairy-industry and local government to seek their views on how they might be affected by the options proposed in the consultation.
	We are gathering data during the consultation process to inform an impact assessment of the proposed options on farmers and business including small to medium sized businesses.
	Based on the evidence received, we will provide a fuller assessment of the direct impact on business.
	A decision about the future operation of the scheme will be made after full consideration is given to the impact assessment, a comprehensive analysis of the consultation responses, and other relevant information.

Thromboembolism

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that clinicians are able to prescribe novel oral anticoagulants.

Norman Lamb: Decisions on the prescribing of medicines are a matter for clinicians in discussion with their patients.
	National health service commissioners are legally required by regulations to fund those anticoagulant treatments recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in its technology appraisal guidance.
	This clarifies the information given in my written answers to the hon. Member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) on 18 June 2013, Official Report, column 668W.

JUSTICE

Crimes against Property: Sentencing

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 13 May 2013, Official Report, columns 6-7W, on crimes against property, how many of those arrested on property damage charges were sent to prison.

Jeremy Wright: The proportion of those convicted to a custodial sentence for property damage is at its highest for 10 years.
	Information on offenders sentenced to immediate custody for criminal damage offences is already in the public domain and can be viewed in the Sentencing chapter of the Criminal Justice Statistics publication on the MOJ website (see in particular annual tables A5.1 from 2001 to 2011). Please see the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/162616/sentencing-tables-1211.xls.xls

Housing Act 2004

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been prosecuted under section (a) 30, (b) 32 and (c) 35 of the Housing Act 2004 since that Act's enactment.

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. However, information held centrally for offences under sections 30, 32 and 35 of the Housing Act 2004 form part of a wider group consisting of all offences under all sections of the Act. As such, prosecutions brought under sections 30, 32 and 35 of the Housing Act 2004 cannot be separately identified from prosecutions brought under other sections of the Act.

Knives: Crime

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been (a) charged and (b)  prosecuted under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 for aggravated threatening knife offences since 3 December 2012; and what sentence or disposal was handed down in each case where the defendant was found guilty or admitted the offence.

Jeremy Wright: These offences are contained in the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, and came into force on 3 December 2012, and carry a minimum custodial sentence of six months for adults, and four month Detention and Training Order for 16 to 17 years olds which must be imposed unless in all circumstances it would be unjust to do so.
	Neither the Ministry of Justice nor the Home Office hold information required to answer part (a) as we do not hold statistics centrally on the number of people charged. However the Ministry of Justice holds corresponding data on the number of prosecutions and the table shows the number of offenders who have been prosecuted. The latest available figures are available in table 8 of the Knife Possession Sentencing Quarterly Brief which was published on 6 June 2012. The quarterly bulletin is available from the Ministry of Justice website at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/knife-possession-sentencing-quarterly-brief-january-to-march-2013

Legal Aid Scheme

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what meetings were held as part of his Department's consultation on legal aid reforms since 1 October 2012 with (a) the Chair of the Bar Council, (b) the President of the Law Society, (c) members of the senior judiciary, (d) circuit leaders, (e) solicitors representing Law Society Members and (f) other individuals or organisations; and what the (i) date and (ii) length was of each such meeting.

Jeremy Wright: Between 9 April and 4 June 2013 the Government consulted on a number of proposals to reform legal aid via the “Transforming Legal Aid: delivering a more credible and efficient system” consultation. This included a proposed model of competitive tendering for criminal legal aid services. We have been clear we must continue to bear down on the cost of legal aid, including the £1 billion of taxpayers' money spent on criminal legal aid a year, to ensure we are getting the best deal for the taxpayer.
	Ministers and officials have undertaken numerous meetings with stakeholders and interested parties over the time period in question, and particularly during the course of the consultation. This includes regular meetings with the judiciary which ordinarily cover a range of topics, including legal aid. In the table is listed every meeting undertaken by the ministerial team, policy officials and representatives of the Legal Services Commission (or from 1 April 2013 the Legal Aid Agency).
	
		
			  Times/length of meeting (if available) MOJ/LAA officials (and/or Ministers) Organisation/person met (should list Bar Council, Law Soc, Senior Judiciary, Circuit Leaders, Solicitors representing Law Soc members, and any others) 
			 12 October 2012 — Lord McNally, Minister of State (LM-MoS), Senior Civil Servant (SCS) Legal Aid Practitioners Group Annual Conference 
		
	
	
		
			 18 October 2012 — LM-MoS, SCS, Civil Servant (CS) Law Society President 
			 29 October 2012 45 minutes SCS, LAA x 2 Bar Council 
			 2 November 2012 60 minutes Legal Services Commission rep (LSC) Forbes 
			 6 November 2012 45 minutes Secretary of State (SoS), LM-MoS, SCS x 3, CS Bar Council 
			 6 November 2012 45 minutes SoS Bar Council 
			 8 November 2012 60 minutes SCS Law Society President 
			 23 November 2012 60 minutes LSC Tuckers (Manchester) 
			 7 December2012 90 minutes SCS Law Society 
			 17 December 2012 60 minutes SCS, LSC x 2 Chair of the Bar Council 
			 18 December 2012 90 minutes LM-MoS, SCS Law Society 
			 19 December 2012 60 minutes SCS President of the Queen's Bench Division 
			 19 December 2012 60 minutes SCS, LSC x 2 Bar Council 
			 10 January 2013 45 minutes LSC Law Society (Wales) 
			 15 January 2013 60 minutes SCS, LSC x 2 Bar Council 
			 25 January 2013 45 minutes LSC, SCS Bhatia Best 
			 29 January 2013 45 minutes SoS, LM-MoS, SCS, CS Chair of the Bar Council 
			 30 January 2013 30 minutes SCS Master of the Rolls 
			 11 February 2013 30 minutes SCS President of the Queen's Bench Division 
			 19 February 2013 60 minutes LSC x 2 Law Society 
			 20 February 2013 60 minutes LSC x 2 Law Society 
			 26 February 2013 60 minutes SCS Tuckers and Law Society 
			 1 March 2013 60 minutes SCS Bar Council (Fees Policy Group) 
			 4 March 2013 15 minutes SoS, CS Phone call with Chair of Bar Council 
			 11 March 2013 60 minutes SCS x 2 Chair of the Bar Council 
			 12 March 2013 60 minutes SCS Cartwright King 
			 18 March 2013 60 minutes SCS President of the Queen's Bench Division 
			 18 March 2013 — LM-MoS, Damien Green, Minister of State (DG-MoS) Criminal Justice Board/Defence Community 
			 20 March 2013 45 minutes SoS, LM-MoS, SCS, LSC, CS Chair of the Bar Council 
			 22 March 2013 60 minutes SCS Bar Council (Fees Policy Group) 
			 25 March 2013 15 minutes SoS, CS Phone call with Chair of the Bar Council 
			 26 March 2013 75 minutes SCS President of the Family Division 
			 27 March 2013 30 minutes SCS Senior Presiding Judge 
			 27 March 2013 45 minutes SoS, LM-MoS, SCS, LSC, CS Law Society 
			 4 April 2013 60 minutes SCS Law Society 
			 5 April 2013 15 minutes Legal Aid Agency (LAA) Kaim Todner 
			 17 April 2013 60 minutes LAA x 2 Law Society 
			 22 April 2013 60 minutes SCS Bar Council 
			 22 April 2013 — SCS, LAA Department of Justice in Northern Ireland 
			 22 April 2013 — SCS, LAA Citadel Chambers 
			 22 April 2013 — SCS, LAA Crown Prosecution Service 
			 23 April 2013 60 minutes SoS, SCS x 2, LAA, CS x 2 Circuit Leaders and Leader of the Western Circuit 
			 25 April 2013 60 minutes Permanent Secretary (PS), SCS, LAA Chair of the Bar Council 
			 25 April 2013 — SCS, LAA Association of Prison Lawyers 
			 25 April 2013 60 minutes SCS, LAA Tuckers Solicitors (London) 
			 30 April 2013 60 minutes SCS, LAA Hine Solicitors 
			 30 April 2013 — SCS, LAA Rodney Warren & Co Solicitors 
			 30 April 2013 — SCS, LAA Williamson Solicitors 
			 1 May 2013 60 minutes SCS, LAA Tuckers Solicitors (Manchester), Olliers Manchester, Cartwright King 
			 2 May 2013 60 minutes SCS, LAA Cartwright King 
			 2 May 2013 60 minutes SCS, LAA TV Edwards solicitors 
			 2 May 2013 — SCS, LAA Stephen Lickrish solicitors 
			 2 May 2013 — SCS, LAA 25 Bedford Row Chambers 
			 2 May 2013 60 minutes SCS Law Society 
			 3 May 2013 60 minutes SCS, LAA Burton Copland LLP 
			 3 May 2013 90 minutes SCS, LAA Members of the Bar Council 
			 7 May 2013 — SCS, LAA CiLEX 
			 7 May 2013 90 minutes Legal Aid Policy Officials Stakeholder engagement event in Reading with 99 tickets booked 
			 7 May 2013 90 minutes Legal Aid Policy Officials Stakeholder engagement event in Newcastle with 200 tickets booked 
			 8 May 2013 60 minutes SoS, SCS x 2, CS President of the Law Society 
		
	
	
		
			 8 May 2013 15 minutes SoS, CS Phone call with President of the Supreme Court 
			 8 May 2013 90 minutes Legal Aid Policy Officials Stakeholder engagement event in Brighton with 89 tickets booked 
			 8 May 2013 90 minutes Legal Aid Policy Officials Stakeholder engagement event in Leeds with 163 tickets booked. 
			 9 May 2013 60 minutes SCS Bar Council 
			 9 May 2013 60 minutes CS x 2 Rights of Women 
			 9 May 2013 90 minutes Legal Aid Policy Officials Stakeholder engagement event in Exeter with 91 tickets booked 
			 13 May 2013 60 minutes SoS, SCS, CS Chair of the Bar Council 
			 13 May 2013 60 minutes CS x 2 Children's Society 
			 14 May 2013 60 minutes SoS, ScS, SCS x 2, LAA Law Society Member Event 
			 14 May 2013 90 minutes Legal Aid Policy Officials Stakeholder engagement event in Bristol with 200 tickets booked 
			 14 May 2013 90 minutes Legal Aid Policy Officials Stakeholder engagement event in Cambridge with 102 tickets booked 
			 15 May 2013 — SCS, LAA Law Society—Criminal Law Committee 
			 15 May 2013 90 minutes Legal Aid Policy Officials Stakeholder engagement event in Cardiff with 205 tickets booked 
			 15 May 2013 90 minutes Legal aid Policy Officials Stakeholder engagement event in Nottingham with 200 tickets booked 
			 16 May 2013 — SCS, LAA Bar Standards Board 
			 16 May 2013 — SCS, LAA Law Society 
			 16 May 2013 90 minutes Legal Aid Policy Officials Stakeholder engagement event in Birmingham with 235 tickets booked 
			 16 May 2013 90 minutes Legal Aid Policy Officials Stakeholder engagement event in London with 225 tickets booked 
			 17 May 2013 60 minutes SCS Circuit Leaders 
			 20 May 2013 60 minutes SCS President of the Queen's Bench Division 
			 20 May 2013 60 minutes SoS, SCS x 2, LAA, CS x 2 Circuit Leaders 
			 20 May 2013 60 minutes SoS, SCS x 2, LAA, CS Law Society Member Event 
			 21 May 2013 90 minutes Legal Aid Policy Officials Stakeholder engagement event in Liverpool with 207 tickets booked 
			 21 May 2013 90 minutes Legal Aid Policy Officials Stakeholder engagement event in Manchester with 250 tickets booked 
			 23 May 2013 60 minutes SCS Law Society 
			 23 May 2013 90 minutes Legal Aid Policy Officials Stakeholder engagement event in London with 283 tickets booked 
			 28 May 2013 — LM-MoS Liberal Democrat Lawyers Association 
			 29 May 2013 — SCS, LAA Judicial Office, Royal Courts of Justice 
			 30 May 2013 60 minutes CS x 2 Academy of Experts 
			 30 May 2013 45 minutes LM-SoS, SCS, LAA Chair, Criminal Bar Association 
			 31 May 2013 60 minutes SCS Bar Council 
			 3 June 2013 60 minutes SoS, SCS, LAA, CS Law Society 
			 3 June 2013 — LM-MoS Liberal Democrat Lawyers Association 
			 3 June 2013 60 minutes SCS, CS x 2 Legal Aid Practitioners Group 
			 3 June 2013 — SCS, LAA Legal Aid Practitioners Group 
			 4 June 2013 45 minutes SoS, SCS, LAA, CS Chair of the Bar Council 
			 4 June 2013 — SCS, LAA Farleys Solicitors

Legal Aid Scheme

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effect of his proposed legal aid reforms on the number of self-represented litigants.

Jeremy Wright: Between 9 April and 4 June 2013 the Government consulted on a number of proposals to reform legal aid via the “Transforming Legal Aid: delivering a more credible and efficient system” consultation. This included a proposed model of competitive tendering for criminal legal aid services. We have been clear we must continue to bear down on the cost of legal aid, including the £1 billion of taxpayers' money spent on criminal legal aid a year, to ensure we are getting the best deal for the taxpayer.
	In addition Ministers and officials in the MOJ meet regularly with HMCTS and members of the Judiciary and will continue to monitor impact of the changes.
	The MOJ's analytical services team has commissioned a research project to develop the evidence base on the range of litigants in person in private law family cases, their behavioural drivers, support needs and their impact on the court system.
	The research includes two key elements:
	(1) a detailed analysis of all cases listed for a hearing in five target courts over a three-week data collection period, involving observation of the hearings, interviews with the parties and the professionals associated with the case and scrutiny of the court file; and,
	(2) a local contextual study, designed to pick up the broader processes and perspectives relevant to litigants in person.
	The aim is to improve our understanding of the full range of cases involving litigants in person and how their needs are supported during the court process.

Magistrates: Veterans

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many magistrates have served in the armed forces.

Helen Grant: I am unable to provide this information, as to do so would incur disproportionate costs; all of the Lord Chancellor's local advisory committees would be required to check the individual personal files for over 23,000 magistrates.

Offenders

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people working in (a) his Department and (b) the agencies for which he is responsible have a criminal conviction.

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice does not hold a central record of people working in the Department, its agencies and its Executive non-departmental public bodies that have a criminal conviction.
	To establish how many staff have a criminal conviction would require a Ministry wide exercise to collect the information. This would incur disproportionate costs. If serving members of staff receive a criminal conviction, they will be subject to potential disciplinary action. Depending on the nature of the conviction, this could lead to dismissal, including summary dismissal.
	This would be in addition to any criminal sanctions imposed by the courts. Prior to beginning employment with the Ministry of Justice, applicants must declare criminal convictions and consent to additional background checks where appropriate. Previous criminal convictions do not automatically exclude people from employment at the Ministry of Justice and each case is considered on its merits.

Police Cautions

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with the Office of the Chief Magistrate about the use of conditional cautions.

Jeremy Wright: I have not had any recent discussions specifically on conditional cautions. However, I have regular meetings with the judiciary and in October the Ministry of Justice published consultations on the draft Adult and Youth Codes of Practice for Conditional Cautions copies of which were sent to the judiciary. The Government engaged with the magistracy as part of the review into simple cautions.

Prison Service

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what sentences were received by each employee of the Prison Service found guilty of criminal activity in the workplace in each year since 2003;
	(2)  what sentences were handed down to employees of the Prison Service found guilty of criminal activity in the workplace in each year since 2003.

Jeremy Wright: Staff employed in the public sector prison service and found guilty of a criminal offence in the workplace would invariably face internal disciplinary action in addition to the criminal prosecution.
	While the vast majority of its staff are honest and hard working, the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is committed to detecting, deterring and disrupting any and all corrupt behaviour by individuals working in prisons. A dedicated NOMS Corruption Prevention Unit was set up to ensure staff corruption is identified and tackled. As part of this work NOMS has compiled a central record of staff convicted of offences which meet the NOMS definition of corruption.
	This definition is that corruption occurs when a person in a position of authority or trust abuses their position for their or another person's benefit or gain.
	Therefore the NOMS central record does not include all types of criminality as not all offences meet the definition. No central data exist prior to 2008.
	Sentences handed down to individuals working in prisons since 2008 is given in the following table:
	
		
			 Sentences 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Grand total 
			 Community order — — 1 — — — 1 
			 Community service 2 — — — — 1 3 
			 Conditional discharge — 3 1 1 3 — 3 
			 Fine — — — 2 2 — 4 
			 Imprisonment 10 14 13 15 17 7 76 
			 Suspended imprisonment — 3 3 1 2 3 12 
			 Police caution 4 6 7 11 9 4 41 
			 Prison sentence suspended — 1 — — — — 1 
			 Suspended sentence — — — 1 1 — 2 
			 Grand total 16 27 25 31 34 15 148 
		
	
	The information provided has been drawn from live administrative data systems which may be amended at any time. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.

Prison Service

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prison staff were dismissed for breaches of the code of conduct in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012.

Jeremy Wright: Information on the number of civil servants employed by the National Offender Management Service working in prison establishments that were dismissed for conduct in the past five calendar years are contained in the following table.
	
		
			 Headcount of staff in prison establishments 
			  Dismissal—Conduct 
			 2008 128 
		
	
	
		
			 2009 118 
			 2010 131 
			 2011 122 
			 2012 112 
			 Notes: 1. Does not include staff in HQ, Area Services or Shared Service Centre, who do not work in prison establishments. 2. Figures represent the headcount of staff leaving the department with a reason for leaving listed as “Dismissal—Conduct”.

Prisoners’ Release

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of prisoners given a life sentence were released before their originally allocated minimum period of imprisonment had been served in the last five years;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment or an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public protection in the last 30 years have not served the entirety of their original punitive tariff period.

Jeremy Wright: All life sentence prisoners and those prisoners serving an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) must serve a minimum period of imprisonment to meet the needs of retribution and deterrence. Pursuant to section 30 of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997, the Secretary of State may at any time release an indeterminate sentence prisoner on licence if he or she is satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist which justifies early release on compassionate grounds. Such circumstances are either that the prisoner has a terminal illness and has less than three months to live or that the prisoner is bedridden or severely incapacitated. Before exercising this power, the Secretary of State must be satisfied that early release does not undermine public protection.
	Comprehensive records in a readily accessible electronic format are not available for the last 30 years. Data are available in the required format since 2006. The number of compassionate releases of indeterminate sentence prisoners who had not reached their tariff expiry date between 2006 and 2012 was four. To put this into context, the total number of first releases of tariff-expired life and IPP prisoners over the same period was 2,191.

Prisoners: Death

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on Prisons and Probation Ombudsman investigations following deaths in custody in each of the last three years.

Jeremy Wright: Across each of the last three business years, the portion of the total Prisons and Probation Ombudsman's budget attributed to investigating deaths in custody, which includes some associated office costs, was as follows:
	
		
			  Total cost for fatal incident investigations (£) 
			 2010-11 3,243,326 
			 2011-12 3,009,472 
			 2012-13 2,784,832

Prisoners: Pay

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners in the UK are in receipt of unemployment pay.

Jeremy Wright: The National Offender Management Service has responsibility for prisons in England and Wales.
	To obtain the information for how many prisoners are receiving unemployment pay in both public and private prisons would require examining individual prisoner records to establish those who are in receipt of unemployment pay and this could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Prisoners: Public Consultation

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners responded to the consultation on the Victims' Code of Conduct; and if he will make such responses public.

Helen Grant: We received a number of responses to the consultation on ‘Improving the Code of Practice for Victims' of Crime’ from a range of stakeholders, including organisations representing victims’ groups, criminal justice practitioners, including those who work with offenders such as youth offending teams, and members of the public. None of those who responded to the consultation identified themselves as a prisoner.

Prisons: Construction

Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what feasibility studies his Department has commissioned on Titan prisons.

Jeremy Wright: We are not resurrecting the “Titan” prison programme. The Ministry of Justice is carrying out a review to examine the feasibility of constructing a new prison which will be economically viable and will save the taxpayer money. The feasibility work will determine the most appropriate location, size and role of the prison as well as examining the operating and funding arrangements.

Prisons: Discipline

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many incidents there have been of (a) abuse of prison staff, (b) breach of health and safety regulations and (c) misuse of tools, equipment and other offences against good order and discipline in each of the last five years; and how many prisoners have been disciplined for these actions in each such year.

Jeremy Wright: The information is as follows.
	(a) The National Offender Management Service incident reporting system does not record the number of incidents in which staff were abused but does record the number of incidents in which staff were assaulted. Table 1 shows the numbers of assaults on staff for each of the last five years.
	
		
			 Table 1: Assaults on staff 
			  Assaults on staff 
			 2008 3,219 
			 2009 3,080 
			 2010 2,848 
			 2011 3,132 
			 2012 2,987 
		
	
	The system for recording disciplinary action against prisoners arising from such incidents only records whether that action was for adjudications of ‘violence against a person’. It does not distinguish between prisoner and staff victims. The system also includes adjudications involving ‘Threats/abusive words or behaviour’ but similarly, this does not distinguish between prisoner and staff victims.
	(b) Breaches of health and safety regulations has been taken to refer to actual prosecutions. Crown Censures of National Offender Management Service for a breach of employer obligations under Health and Safety regulations are relatively rare and we are only aware of two such cases in the last five years.
	(c) The National Offender Management Service incident reporting system does not specifically record the number of incidents of misuse of tools equipment and other offences against good order and discipline. However, the adjudications system does record ‘offences against good order and discipline’ of which disciplinary action against prisoners was taken in 430 cases in 2012. We do not have this information for the previous four years.

Prisons: Employment

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what consideration he has given to introducing mandatory prisoner work schemes for those who are able to do so, as a condition of their sentence.

Jeremy Wright: Prisoners can be compelled to work in both private and public prisons in accordance with Rule 31 of the Prison Rules. We have already begun to see an increase in both the numbers of hours worked by prisoners, and the length of the working week in some prisons. Statistics published in June 2012 show that in 2010-11 public sector prisons delivered around 10.6 million prisoner working hours which increased to over 11.4 million hours in 2011-12.
	Currently over 10,500 prisoners per day are actively employed in industrial work areas undertaking a wide range of activities. These figures do not include the substantial numbers of prisoners who work in prisons on tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.
	On 30 April 2013, we announced significant changes to the Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) scheme. The purpose of the IEP scheme will change so that not only are adult prisoners (18 or over) expected to behave well, but they will also be expected to actively work towards their own rehabilitation and, to reach the highest level of the scheme, demonstrate both an active commitment to their own rehabilitation and provide help or support to other prisoners and/or prison staff. Gaining additional privileges will require not just the absence of negative behaviour, but also the demonstration of positive behaviour targeted at rehabilitation.

Prisons: Employment

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people employed by HM Prison Service to (a) cook, (b) serve meals, (c) do prison maintenance and (d) clean are not serving prison sentences; and what the cost of their employment was in the last year for which figures are available.

Jeremy Wright: This information is not collected centrally and could be obtained only through manually checking with individual prisons, which would incur disproportionate costs.

Prisons: Mental Health Services

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what space each prison establishment in England and Wales provides for the purpose of completing mental health assessments.

Jeremy Wright: Prisons work closely with NHS England, mental health trusts and other health care providers to ensure that appropriate space is provided for confidential services including medical and mental health assessments.
	All prisons have appropriate areas to support health care screening, diagnosis and treatment. These include areas in reception to undertake the reception risk assessment, first night facilities, health care wings and clinical consultation rooms, all of which support the effective provision of health care services.

Prisons: Operating Costs

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will publish the cost of all services under each costing of each prison in the UK.

Jeremy Wright: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) publishes prison unit costs in summary form for each prison as an Addendum alongside its Annual Report and Accounts. We do not intend or plan to publish a detailed analysis of each prison unit costs.
	The published information for each prison unit’s costs for financial 2011-12 is available on the Department's website at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prison-and-probation-trusts-performance-statistics-2011-12
	Between 2008-09 and 2011-12 prison unit costs (direct prison costs only) have reduced in real terms by 11% per place and 10% per prisoner.
	We plan to publish similar summary information for financial year 2012-13 on the MOJ website in October alongside the Management Information Addendum.
	Copies of all previous Annual Reports and Accounts are also placed in the House Library.

Prisons: Television

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the cost is to the public purse of the provision of televisions for use in prisons;
	(2)  on what date his Department plans to introduce the proposed ban on television channels in prisons.

Jeremy Wright: On 30 April 2013, we announced significant changes to the Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) scheme, under which prisoners earn access to in-cell television and other privileges. The changes, which will come into effect from 1 November, will ensure that privileges are appropriate and earned not just through good behaviour but also through the demonstration of positive behaviour targeted at rehabilitation.
	Access to in-cell television is not provided at cost to the taxpayer. The provision of in-cell television is entirely self-financing from the rental payments made by prisoners. All costs related to the purchase and provision of televisions are recovered from this charge.
	As part of the changes to the IEP scheme subscription television, which is currently available in some contracted out prisons, is being removed. Contracted out prisons have been informed of the need to remove subscription television services by 31 July 2013.

Probation Trusts: Negligence

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions each probation trust has been sued for negligence in each of the last five years.

Jeremy Wright: The information is not collected centrally in this form and obtaining it from each of the 35 probation trusts would incur disproportionate cost.

Sign Language

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the equality of access available for deaf people whose first language is British Sign Language in communicating with (a) legal professionals and the court services and (b) the agencies and public bodies which support his Department; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what measures his Department has put in place to ensure that deaf people have the opportunity to communicate in British Sign Language with (a) legal professionals and the court services and (b) the agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible.

Helen Grant: The Ministry of Justice is committed to meeting the needs of its service users, and endeavours to work with them to respond to their requirements. In cases where British Sign Language is the appropriate form of communication, the Ministry would look to provide an interpreter on request
	The Ministry and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies apply the same process to users British Sign Language as they would to other languages, assessing any service users' needs as required. Under the Equality Act 2010, Departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies must make reasonable adjustments for disabled service users, which would include provision of British Language translators as appropriate.

Trials

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the cost was to the court system of the delays caused by criminal trials that were ineffective for reasons related to court administration in 2012-13;
	(2)  what the cost was to the court system of (a) delays caused by ineffective criminal trials and (b) cracked trials in 2012-13.

Helen Grant: The information is as follows:
	156923
	Using current resourcing models, we estimate that in magistrates courts, the staff and legal adviser cost of trials that were ineffective for administrative reasons was £1.0 million and in the Crown court the staff and judicial cost for trials that were ineffective for administrative reasons was between £0.4 million and £0.5 million.
	These estimates are based on volumes for the 2012 calendar year. Data on the number of, and main reasons for, ineffective trials are published quarterly by the Ministry of Justice. Data to December 2012 was published on 27 March 2013 and is available. Data covering January to March 2013 will be published on 20 June.
	Ineffective trials for administrative reasons covers all trials that are ineffective due to ‘another case over-ran’, ‘judge/magistrate availability’, ‘overlisting (insufficient cases drop out/floater/backer not reached)’ and ‘equipment/accommodation failure’, and additionally in the Crown court only ‘insufficient jurors available’, ‘outstanding committals in the magistrates court’ and ‘outstanding committals in the Crown court’.
	156924
	Using current resourcing models, we estimate that:
	(a) In magistrates courts the staff and legal adviser cost of ineffective trials was £3.6 million and in the Crown court the staff and judicial cost of ineffective trials was between £1.6 million and £2.0 million.
	(b) In magistrates courts the staff and legal adviser cost of cracked trials was £9.5 million and in the Crown court that the staff and judicial cost of cracked trials was between £2.7 million and £3.6 million.
	These estimates are based on volumes for the 2012 calendar year. Data on the number of effective, ineffective and cracked trials are published quarterly by the Ministry of Justice. Data to December 2012 was published on 27 March 2013 and is available. Data covering January to March 2013 will be published on 20 June.

Witnesses

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many requests for registered intermediaries have been made by (a) children and (b) adults in each month since January 2013.

Helen Grant: Requests for registered intermediaries for children (0-17 years) and adults (18 years plus) are made by police forces and/or CPS areas, not by the individuals themselves. The number of requests for both categories in 2013 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Children Adults 
			 January 62 67 
			 February 46 60 
			 March 59 66 
			 April 60 60 
			 May 54 68

Witnesses

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many registered intermediaries were appointed in each of the last three years for which data is available; and what the type of case was in each case.

Helen Grant: Data are available for the number of registered intermediaries appointed in cases involving sexual offences, and all other offences. The number of appointments for both categories is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Sexual offences Other offences 
			 2010 752 452 
			 2011 760 470 
			 2012 835 587 
			 2013 (to 31 May) 396 195

Work Capability Assessment: Wales

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many of those living in each constituency in Wales who appealed against decisions on benefits entitlement made following work capability assessments waited more than six weeks for their appeals to be heard in the financial year 2012-13;
	(2)  how many claimants living in each constituency in Wales had to wait more than six weeks for their appeals to be heard against decisions on benefits entitlement made following work capability assessments carried out in the financial year 2012-13.

Helen Grant: The First Tier Tribunal—Social Security and Child Support (SSCS), administered by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), hears appeals against Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) decisions on entitlement to employment and support allowance (ESA) (decisions in which the work capability assessment (WCA) is a key factor).
	Appeals made to the SSCS are not recorded on a constituency basis, but by the office which deals with the case. This is usually the hearing venue nearest to the appellant's home address. Consequently the information has been provided by SSCS hearing venues in Wales.
	The information provided is for those appeals where the WCA is a factor and is shown in the following tables: total disposals (a); and cases disposed of at hearing (b).
	(a) The figures provided in the following table are total disposals in Wales where the WCA was a factor. This includes those disposed of at a tribunal hearing and those that were disposed of without the need for a hearing (for example withdrawn, superseded or struck out).
	
		
			 2012-13 
			 SSCS venue Total number of cases disposed Number of cases disposed of in less than six weeks Number of cases disposed of in more than six weeks 
			 Aberystwyth 344 38 306 
			 Bridgend 1,338 114 1,224 
			 Caernarfon 324 40 284 
			 Cardiff 6,610 662 5,948 
			 Carmarthen 91 4 87 
			 Colwyn Bay 378 82 296 
			 Cwmbran 179 1 178 
			 Haverfordwest 510 49 461 
		
	
	
		
			 Langstone All 3,702 333 3,369 
			 Llandrindod Wells 35 2 33 
			 Llandudno 133 9 124 
			 Llangefni 222 31 191 
			 Merthyr Tydfil 298 11 287 
			 Neath 652 41 611 
			 Newtown 102 4 98 
			 Pontypridd 74 8 66 
			 Port Talbot 2,832 303 2,529 
			 Prestatyn 269 7 262 
			 Swansea 466 8 458 
			 Welshpool 66 8 58 
			 Wrexham 1,401 140 1,261 
			 Total 20,026 1,895 18,131 
		
	
	(b) The figures provided in the following table are those cases in Wales where the WCA was a factor and which were disposed of at a tribunal hearing:
	
		
			 2012-13 
			 SSCS venue Total cases disposed of at hearing Number of cases disposed of at hearing in less than six weeks Number of cases disposed of athearing in more than six weeks 
			 Aberystwyth 303 10 293 
			 Bridgend 1,220 34 1,186 
			 Caernarfon 286 10 276 
			 Cardiff 6,134 359 5,775 
			 Carmarthen Justice Centre 89 3 86 
			 Colwyn Bay 296 22 274 
			 Cwmbran 177 1 176 
			 Haverfordwest 461 17 444 
			 Langstone All 3,434 148 3,286 
			 Llandrindod Wells 33 0 33 
			 Llandudno 130 7 123 
			 Llangefni 191 9 182 
			 Merthyr Tydfil 282 3 279 
			 Neath 605 10 595 
			 Newtown 94 1 93 
			 Pontypridd 64 1 63 
			 Port Talbot 2,503 81 2,422 
			 Prestatyn 261 5 256 
			 Swansea 448 6 442 
			 Welshpool 58 1 57 
			 Wrexham 1,252 48 1,204 
			 Total 18,321 776 17,545 
		
	
	The number of appeals received by the SSCS tribunal nationally has risen significantly: from 339,200 in 2009-10 to 507,100 in 2012-13 (an increase of 49%). In addition to local initiatives, such as identifying additional hearing venues across HMCTS estate, and increasing the use of Saturday sessions, HMCTS continues to respond strongly at a national level to continue to increase the capacity of the SSCS tribunal and reduce waiting times. Measures in place include ongoing recruitment of additional judges and medically qualified members and the review and continuous improvement of administrative processes both internally and between HMCTS and DWP. All of this is having a positive effect. The total number of disposals has increased significantly from 279,000 in 2009-10 to 465,500 in 2012-13 (an increase of 66%).
	The average waiting time has fallen nationally from 23 weeks in 2011-12 to 18 weeks in 2012-13: in Wales this has fallen from 21 weeks in 2011-12 to 13 weeks in 2012-13.

Youth Custody

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the use of restorative justice approaches within the secure children's estate.

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice has conducted an evaluation of a number of restorative justice pilot schemes. Four reports were published over the period 2004 to 2008 which made reference to the use of restorative justice in respect of young offenders. However, there has not been a specific evaluation of the use of restorative justice in the youth secure estate. The reports are available at:
	http://www.restorativejustice.org.uk/resource/ministry_of_justice_evaluation_implementing_restorative_justice_ schemes_crime_reduction_programme_the_first_year_report/
	This Government are committed to encouraging greater use of restorative justice and published its Restorative Justice Action Plan for the Criminal Justice System on 19 November 2012. Following on from that, a key action in the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales' Business Plan for 2013-14 is to promote restorative justice approaches with a focus on the development of practice in the youth secure estate.

CABINET OFFICE

Business: North East

Julie Elliott: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many businesses closed in (a) the north-east, (b) Sunderland Local Authority and (c) Sunderland Central constituency in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated June 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many businesses closed in (a) the North East, (b) Sunderland Local Authority and (c) Sunderland Central Constituency in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.
	Data on the number of business closures (enterprise deaths) are available in the ONS release on Business Demography at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/bus-register/business-demography/index.html
	The latest data available are for 2011. Data for 2012 will be available in December 2013.
	The table contains the count of enterprise deaths in (a) the North East, (b) Sunderland Local Authority and (c) Sunderland Central Constituency in 2011.
	
		
			 Count of enterprise deaths in (a) North East, (b) Sunderland local authority and (c) Sunderland Central constituency in 2011 
			  Number 
			 North East Region 6,250 
			 Sunderland Local Authority 645 
			 Sunderland Central Constituency 280 
			 Notes: 1. The above table has been produced using an extract from the Inter Departmental Business Register. 2. Figures have been rounded to protect confidentiality. 3. These numbers do not include very small businesses, typically those below the threshold for VAT and PAYE.

Civil Servants

Graham Allen: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to section 3(6) of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, what steps the Prime Minister (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to ensure that, in exercising his power to manage the civil service, he shall have regard to the need to ensure that civil servants who advise Ministers are aware of the constitutional significance of Parliament and of the conventions governing the relationship between Parliament and Her Majesty’s Government.

Francis Maude: The civil service code makes clear that civil servants advising Ministers should be aware of the constitutional significance of Parliament and of the conventions governing the relationship between Parliament and the Government.
	The Government committed in the Civil Service Reform plan to strengthening the accountability of civil servants both to Ministers and to Parliament. It is currently reviewing Cabinet Office guidance on Departmental Evidence and Response to Select Committees (known as the Osmotherly rules).

Civil Servants: Disclosure of Information

Michael Meacher: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will ban the use of special severance payments involving large pay-offs designed to prevent civil servants speaking out about problems.

Francis Maude: Departments should only make special severance payments under compromise agreements when they provide good value for money compared to costly employment litigation. They cannot lawfully be used to prevent civil servants from whistleblowing.

Cybercrime

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he is taking to work with IT industry leaders such as Microsoft and Google to assess the adequacy of the level of cyber security among consumers and small businesses.

Chloe Smith: The UK Cyber Security Strategy published in November 2011 stresses the importance of partnership with industry in addressing cyber security threats to the UK. Government Departments work closely with industry through a wide range of programmes and initiatives including targeted engagement and dedicated sector partnerships. Through the National Cyber Security Programme we are working with a range of industry partners to assess and address cyber security among consumers and SMEs, using research and awareness campaigns delivered through the joint public and private sector initiative, Get Safe Online, and through the National Fraud Authority's online fraud work.
	The Government has announced that in 2013 we will be rolling out a programme of public and SME awareness drives, building on the work of the National Fraud Authority and Get Safe Online. This programme will be delivered in partnership with the private sector including industry leaders and will aim at increasing cyber confidence and measurably improving the online safety of consumers and SMEs. We are working now to understand the online behaviour of different segments of consumers in order to prepare the ground for these campaigns and to ensure what we do is based on evidence.

Death

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the rates of death by (a) suicide, (b) heart disease and (c) alcohol-related disease were for (i) men and (ii) women (A) nationally, (B) in each constituent part of the UK and (iii) in each region in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated June 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the rates of death by (a) suicide, (b) heart disease and (c) alcohol-related disease were for (i) men and (ii) women (A) nationally and (B) in each constituent part of the UK and each region in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. (161813)
	The tables provide age-standardised mortality rates per 100,000 population, by sex, in the UK, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and regions of England, for deaths registered between 2002 and 2011 (the latest year available), for the following causes of death:
	Suicide (ages 15 and over (Table 1)
	Ischaemic heart disease (Table 2)
	Alcohol-related cause (Table 3)
	A copy of these tables has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	The number of deaths registered in England and Wales, by sex, age group and underlying cause of death are available on the ONS website:
	www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/mortality-statistics--deaths-registered-in-england-and-wales--series-dr-/index.html
	Mortality data for Scotland are available from National Records of Scotland:
	www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/theme/vital-events/deaths/index.html
	Mortality data for Northern Ireland are available from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency:
	www.nisra.gov.uk/demography/default.asp14.htm

Hospital Deaths

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many people died at the Royal London Hospital from ventriculitis in 2012;
	(2)  how many people died at the Royal London Hospital on (a) 3 June and (b) 4 June 2013;
	(3)  how many people died at the Newham University Hospital on (a) 1 June, (b) 2 June and (c) 3 June 2013.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated June 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking the Secretary of State for Health (i) how many people died at the Royal London Hospital from ventriculitis in 2012 (ii) how many people died at the Royal London Hospital on (a) 3 June and (b) 4 June 2013 and (iii) how many people died at the Newham University Hospital on (a) 1 June, (b) 2 June and (c) 3 June 2013. (162770, 162775, 162776)
	Mortality data for 2012 will be available after July 10 2013, and mortality data for 2013 will be available in July 2014. It may not be possible to publish the number of deaths by specific causes or dates at a particular institution because of the risk of identifying individuals.
	The number of deaths registered in England and Wales, by sex, age group and underlying cause of death are available on the ONS website:
	www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/mortality-statistics--deaths-registered-in-england-and-wales--series-dr-/index.html

Human Trafficking

Andrew Selous: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what grants his Department has made to local community organisations, voluntary groups and non-governmental organisations engaged in fighting human trafficking in each of the last three years.

Nick Hurd: The Cabinet Office has not awarded any grants in the last three years in support of the fight against human trafficking. The Home Office is the lead Department in dealing with human trafficking.

Infant Mortality

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the answer of 27 January 2011, Official Report, columns 463-4W, on infant mortality, when the figures were last updated; what the current figures are; and when the figures will next be updated.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated July 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the Answer of 27 January 2011, Official Report, columns 463-4W, on infant mortality, when the figures were last updated; what the current figures are; and when the figures will next be updated. [162709].
	Infant deaths are those where a baby has died within the first year of life. Tables 1 and 2 attached provide the infant mortality rate in each (a) local authority and (b) clinical commissioning group in England and Wales; Figures are for 2009-11, the most recent period for which figures are available. The data are presented as three year aggregates in order to smooth the annual fluctuations in deaths and provide large enough numbers to ensure that the figures are sufficiently robust.
	Due to the sensitive nature of infant deaths and the risk of identifying individuals, ONS does not publish infant mortality figures for smaller areas. Consequently, rates by (c) parliamentary constituency are not provided.
	Numbers and rates, based on three-year aggregated data, for infant mortality by local authority and strategic health authority for 2008-10 were published on 26 March 2012 on the ONS website at: http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadHome.do. Figures are published for 1998-2000 through to 2008-10.
	Figures for 2009-11 are due to be published by Public Health England, based on data produced by ONS, on 6 August 2013 and will be available on the Public Health Outcomes Framework Data Tool at; http://www.phoutcomes.info/.
	Further information on infant and childhood deaths in England and Wales can be found in the statistical bulletin Child Mortality Statistics on the ONS website: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/child-mortality-statistics--childhood--infant-and-perinatal/index.html
	A copy of the tables has been placed in the House of Commons library.

Misuse of Drugs Ministerial Group

Diana Johnson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many times Ministers of his Office have attended the inter-ministerial group on drugs since May 2010.

Francis Maude: In line with the practice of previous administrations, details of internal meetings are not normally disclosed.

Mobile Phones

Mike Freer: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which companies supply (a) mobile telephones and (b) mobile data services to his Department.

Chloe Smith: The Cabinet Office has a single contract in place with Vodafone for the provision of mobile services.

Public Sector: Charitable Donations

Chris White: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many public sector employees used payroll giving in (a) 2011 and (b) 2012.

Nick Hurd: This Government is committed to increasing payroll giving, as evidenced by the recent consultation on payroll giving and our continued support of the Payroll Giving Awards.
	However, we do not hold data broken down by sector and therefore cannot say what proportion of donors are public sector employees.
	We recognise that more can be done to encourage payroll giving in the public sector, both the civil service and more widely. The Behavioural Insights team in Cabinet Office has recently published results of trials in this area and we are considering the best way to take this work forward. This can be found at:
	www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/203286/BlT_Charitable_Giving_Paper.pdf

Retail Trade: Barnsley

Michael Dugher: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people in Barnsley East constituency are employed in the retail sector.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated June 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many people in Barnsley East constituency are employed in the retail sector.
	Annual employment estimates are available from the Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES). The number of people in Barnsley East constituency employed in the retail sector is 2,000, rounded to the nearest 100.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

RSPCA

Karl McCartney: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what discussions his Department has had about the RSPCA's charitable status since May 2010;
	(2)  what representations he made to the RSPCA after paragraph 96 of the Adult Court Bench Book was amended in 2010.

Nick Hurd: None. The Charity Commission, as the independent registrar and regulator of charities in England and Wales, has responsibility for determining matters of charitable status and for the supervision of charities.

Shipbuilding: Glasgow

John Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of (a) how many and (b) what proportion of people in Glasgow North West constituency are classified as working in the shipbuilding industry in (i) 1997, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2013.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated June 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning (a) how many and (b) what proportion of people in Glasgow North West constituency are classified as working in the shipbuilding industry in (i) 1997, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2013.
	Due to the small number of business workplaces contributing to ONS's local employment statistics, I am unable to provide estimates for this industry, as they are potentially disclosive for this level of geography.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Arts

Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, (b) the British Council, (c) UK Trade and Investment and (d) arts and cultural organisations and creative businesses on promoting British arts and creative industries abroad.

Hugo Swire: The promotion of British arts and our creative industries abroad is integral to the Government's growth agenda. I discuss this, and other related matters regularly with ministerial colleagues. I represent the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the GREAT Britain campaign Programme Board, which is chaired by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Maria Miller), and includes UKTI, VisitBritain and the British Council. The board meets quarterly to discuss the campaign's progress towards meeting its targets of growth in trade, tourism, education and inward investment.

Bahrain

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with his Bahraini counterparts on ensuring that Mr Mahdi Abu Dheeb has access to appropriate medical treatment and physiotherapy while he remains detained in prison in that country.

Alistair Burt: I raised this case with the Deputy Prime HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak on 21 May. We frequently and consistently raise our concerns on a range of human rights issues with the Government of Bahrain. We expect the authorities to meet all of its human rights obligations by ensuring its citizens can exercise the universal human rights to which they are entitled. This includes the medical welfare of prisoners.

British Overseas Territories

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department have visited a British Overseas Territory in an official capacity since May 2010.

Mark Simmonds: Since May 2010, four FCO Ministers —Mark Simmonds, David Lidington, Henry Bellingham and Jeremy Browne—have made a total of 14 visits to British overseas territories.
	Although we do not hold centrally records of all visits by officials we estimate approximately 90 officials have visited (in some cases multiple times) a British overseas territory. This includes visits by administrative and technical staff.

Burma

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his Burmese counterpart to encourage a safe and voluntary return process for displaced Rohingya Muslims in Burma.

Hugo Swire: The Minister of State, Department for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr Duncan), visited Burma between 17 and 20 June 2013, including Rakhine State. In meetings with the Deputy Minister for Border Affairs, Rakhine State's Chief Minister, and with local authorities, he called for a comprehensive and transparent plan for the safe and voluntary return or resettlement of all peoples displaced by the violence in Rakhine.
	The British Government continue to make clear to the Burmese Government at all levels the need for accountability, respect for human rights and urgent humanitarian action in Rakhine. The Minister of State raised these points, and also pressed the Burmese Government to ensure that all people in Rakhine have equal access to health care and education; freedom of movement and livelihood opportunities. We also raise these issues in regular discussions with the UN, as I did with Baroness Amos, UN Under- Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs, on 28 May 2013.

Burma

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the compliance of the reintroduction of the Burmese directive placing a two-child limit on Rohingya couples in the townships of Buthidaung and Maungdaw with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 1979 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989; and what representations he has made to his Burmese counterparts on this issue.

Hugo Swire: We do not support a two-child policy applying to any community in Burma: such a policy contravenes international human rights standards, including UN treaties to which the Burmese Government have signed up. We have welcomed Aung San Suu Kyi's statement that any enforcement of a two-child policy would be discriminatory and not in line with the upholding of human rights in Burma.
	During his visit to Burma on 14 June, the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, my noble Friend Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, raised our concerns with the Government in Naypyidaw. Subsequently, the Minister of State, Department for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr Duncan), raised concerns about the two-child policy during his visit to Rakhine State from 19-20 June and again with Ministers in Naypyidaw, including the Minister for Health. We will continue to raise this matter with the Burmese Government at all appropriate opportunities, along with our other concerns in Rakhine State.

Burma

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his Burmese counterpart to ensure that security forces in Burma provide adequate protection to all ethnic communities including the Rohingya community.

Hugo Swire: The Chief of Defence Staff visited Burma from 2-4 June, where he met with Burma's President, the Commander in Chief, lead negotiators in the peace process, and ethnic leaders. He reiterated our commitment to supporting Burma's democratic transition and the need for military reform, and discussed UK support for the wider peace process, including security sector reform. A focus of our defence engagement in Burma will be on adherence to the core principles of democratic accountability and human rights.
	We remain extremely concerned by the violence directed against Muslim communities in parts of Burma. The Minister of State, Department for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr Duncan), visited Burma between 17 and 20 June and urged the Government to ensure that those responsible for acts of violence in Rakhine State are held accountable.
	Along with the EU, in response to a request from the Government and Aung San Suu Kyi, we are reviewing what steps we might take to assist with police reform in Burma.

Eritrea

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking in conjunction with the UN to tackle the kidnapping of Eritrean citizens in North Africa.

Mark Simmonds: We are concerned about reports of kidnapping and human trafficking of Eritreans in North Africa. We work closely with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) via their offices in the region.
	We have pressed the Eritrean Government to cooperate fully with the UNHCR and to facilitate access to the border areas.
	We are providing funding in Sudan to UNHCR through the Common Humanitarian Fund to support awareness raising and victim protection activities.

Eritrea

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Eritrea about the kidnapping in North Africa of Eritrean citizens who have relatives in the UK who have received ransom demands on their behalf.

Mark Simmonds: In April 2013 the Africa director at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office raised our concerns over reports of kidnapping and people trafficking of Eritrean citizens from neighbouring countries with the Eritrean Presidential Adviser. In the same month our ambassador in Asmara discussed how to tackle the problem during the Article 8 dialogue between the EU and the Eritrean authorities. We have urged the Government of Eritrea to co-operate fully with the UNHCR, which is conducting victim protection and awareness-raising activities, as well as to address the underlying reasons for flight from the country.

Gibraltar: Spain

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken following the discharge of shots by a Guardia Civil vessel in Gibraltarian waters; and if he will make a statement.

David Lidington: We have protested formally to Spain in the strongest terms following reports by the Royal Gibraltar Police that Spanish Guardia Civil illegally pursued a jet ski in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters on 23 June and fired non-lethal shots. I spoke directly to Spanish Minister Inigo Mendez de Vigo on 25 June and our charge d'affaires in Madrid was sent in to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to reiterate the formal protest. The Prime Minister raised the incident with the Spanish Prime Minister on 28 June. We have made clear that the discharge of a weapon in Gibraltar is completely unacceptable. We are urgently seeking a full explanation from Spain.

Greece: Macedonia

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of relations between Macedonia and Greece in respect of the naming issue.

David Lidington: The name dispute between Macedonia and Greece is a bilateral issue. The UK is keen to see an early resolution, acceptable to both sides, and we therefore continue to encourage both to engage constructively in negotiations, under the auspices of the UN envoy Matthew Nimetz.

Hezbollah

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to encourage the EU to add Hezbollah to its proscribed list of terrorist organisations.

Alistair Burt: The Government continue to believe that the appropriate response to Hezbollah's Military Wing for their terrorist activities in recent years, including in Bulgaria and Cyprus in 2012, is EU designation as a terrorist organisation, in line with our national proscription of Hezbollah's military wing. Ministerial colleagues, senior officials and I continue to have the necessary discussions with our EU counterparts to achieve this aim.

India

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the UK is advocating that India as a non-signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty should be admitted to the Nuclear Suppliers Group; and if he will (a) place in the Library and (b) post on his Department's website the paper recently presented on behalf of the UK to the annual meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group in Prague.

Alistair Burt: The UK has long been a strong supporter of India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). The Prime Minister reiterated the UK's support during his visit to India this year through a joint statement issued with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 19 February 2013. That statement noted that the leaders
	“agreed to work actively together to achieve India's ambitions to join the major export control regimes”,
	including the NSG. India shares our commitment to non-proliferation principles, has a good record of not proliferating to other states, and has a burgeoning civil nuclear industry; we believe that the global non-proliferation architecture would be strengthened by India's accession to the NSG at the earliest appropriate moment. The paper the UK submitted to the 2013 NSG Plenary in June was submitted under the Group's rule of confidentiality; it will therefore not be placed in the Library or posted on the Department's website.

Israel

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2013, OfficialReport, column 745, on Israel: children in detention, if he will make a statement on his discussions with the Israeli Attorney-General.

Alistair Burt: On 20 June, I met with Israeli Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He was accompanied by a senior delegation, including Deputy Attorney-General Shai Nitzan and the Israeli ambassador to London. We discussed a range of issues including the treatment of children in detention, the use of live fire in the Gaza buffer zone and in dealing with non-violent protests and demolition of Palestinian property.
	On the question of child detainees we discussed the recommendations in Baroness Scotland's report. I welcomed steps that Israel has taken of late to reduce the gap between provisions for Israeli and Palestinian children including: raising the age of majority to 18; reducing the time period by which an arrested minor must be brought before a judge formalising the right of a parent/guardian to be present in court; and introducing a special court for minors.
	We also discussed the need for further progress. In particular, building on the report's recommendations, we believe it is important to ensure: systematic use of audio-visual recording when questioning children; an end to solitary confinement for children; and notification of arrest in Arabic to parents/guardians so that they can support children in the legal process.

Israel

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will make immediate representations to the government of Israel over their decision to set in motion the Prawer Plan for the removal of 40,000 Bedouin people from their ancestral homeland;
	(2)  if he will discuss with his EU counterparts making a co-ordinated approach to the Government of Israel over its decision to set in motion the Prawer Plan for the removal of 40,000 Bedouin people from their ancestral homeland;
	(3)  if he will request that the US Government should make immediate representations to the Government of Israel over their decision to set in motion the Prawer Plan for the removal of 40,000 Bedouin people from their ancestral homeland.

Alistair Burt: We continue to follow closely Israeli Government plans with respect to Bedouin land claims and unrecognised villages in the Negev. We remain concerned by the possible relocation of thousands of Bedouin. I discussed the proposed legislation with Members of the Knesset when I visited Israel earlier this month. Officials at the British embassy in Tel Aviv are in regular contact with Bedouin leaders and activists, and our ambassador has discussed the proposed legislation with relevant Ministers and parliamentarians. The embassy has also discussed this issue with EU and other partners in Tel Aviv.

Nigeria

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the consequences of the recent violence in Nigeria for stability in the region.

Mark Simmonds: We are gravely concerned by the ongoing violence perpetrated by extremists in north-east Nigeria. We are closely monitoring the security situation and the potential cross-border impact on Nigeria's neighbours. Our assessment is reflected in our travel advice. The British Government will continue to work with the Nigerian Government, and our international partners, to encourage long-term peace, security and development within Nigeria and the region.

North Africa

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to provide support to UK residents whose relatives are the victims of kidnapping in North Africa.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office supports British Nationals if they are kidnapped overseas. As part of this we will offer a range of support to their family in the UK. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not offer support to non-British nationals overseas. Where their families are resident in the UK and concerned about criminal activity they should report this in the first instance to the police.

Occupied Territories

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with EU member states on the labelling of produce from Israeli settlements.

Alistair Burt: The British Government understands the concerns of people who do not wish to purchase goods exported from Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). It was in order to enable consumers to make a more fully informed decision concerning the products they buy that, in December 2009, the UK introduced voluntary guidelines to enable produce from Israeli settlements in the OPTs to be specifically labelled as such.
	The issue of settlement produce is a subject of active discussion with our EU partners. In April, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), wrote to relevant UK ministries and enforcement bodies underlining the importance of correctly applying the law with respect to the labelling of products originating beyond Israel's pre-1967 borders. The Secretary of State has also written to EU High Representative Baroness Ashton, along with other EU Foreign Ministers, to welcome her commitment to work with fellow Commissioners to prepare EU-wide guidelines on the labelling of settlement produce. There are currently no plans, however, for EU or domestic legislation to ban the import of settlement products.

Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to announce the date of the current year's meeting of the Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council.

Mark Simmonds: We are organising the Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council for 26 to 27 November 2013. It will be held in London. I am in touch with the leaders of the overseas territories about an agenda for this Council that will take forward our programme of co-operation.

Pakistan

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Prime Minister will discuss with his Pakistani counterpart the need for caution and the potential for instability and unrest in the region if a trial for treason against his military ruler predecessor takes place.

Alistair Burt: This is an internal matter for Pakistan.

Palestinians

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Israeli Government about salaries paid to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons by the Palestinian Authority.

Alistair Burt: The Palestinian Authority (PA) makes payments to meet the living expenses of prisoners in Israeli jails at the request of the Israeli authorities. These payments are managed by an Israeli company. Separately, the PA makes social assistance payments to families of prisoners.
	Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Elkin raised the issue of payments to prisoners with British officials in Tel Aviv on 28 May 2013, expressing concern as to whether payments are higher for prisoners serving longer sentences.

Palestinians

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Palestinian Authority about salaries paid to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.

Alistair Burt: The Department for International Development continues to have regular discussions with the Palestinian Authority (PA) on this issue, and encourage the PA to ensure that payments to Palestinian prisoners and their families are transparent, needs-based and affordable.
	The Minister of State, Department for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr Duncan) discussed this issue with the Palestinian Minister of Prisoners during his visit to the UK on 21 June 2013. Mr Duncan welcomed a letter from the Minister for Prisoners providing further information on the payments and making clear that they were not intended to reward terrorism.
	The canteen payments to prisoners were made at the request of the Israeli authorities and managed by an Israeli company.

Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people from addresses in Scotland were registered with the LOCATE service prior to the service closing in May 2013.

Mark Simmonds: The LOCATE system did not hold this information as a registrant's home address was not a mandatory field. Instead it asked for the overseas address where the British national was visiting or resident.

Sierra Leone

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of bilateral relations with Sierra Leone since November 2012.

Mark Simmonds: Britain's bilateral relationship with Sierra Leone is strong. Britain has historically played a key role in bringing stability to the country and we continue to engage with the Government of Sierra Leone politically, commercially, militarily and through development aid. Our high commission in Freetown has good links with all parts of the Sierra Leonean Government. Commercially, there are a number of large UK investments in the Sierra Leonean mining and energy sectors. Militarily, the transition from the UK-led International Military Assistance Training Team to the International Security Advisory Team will continue to provide training to the Sierra Leone armed and police forces and mentoring at senior levels of government. Britain is the largest bilateral aid donor to Sierra Leone, giving approximately £445 million over the past 10 years.

Sierra Leone

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the security situation in Kailahun province, Sierra Leone.

Mark Simmonds: We closely monitor the security situation across Sierra Leone to ensure that our travel advice is accurate and up to date. That travel advice reflects our current assessment there remain some minimal security risks in Sierra Leone.
	The UK Government, along with their international partners, work closely with the Government of Sierra Leone to ensure a stable and secure environment. Britain is also contributing to a programme of security sector reform through the International Security Advisory Team, which includes training Sierra Leone's armed forces and border security.

Somalia

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to support the African Union Forces fighting al-Shabab and other terrorist groups in Somalia following the recent attack on the UN office in Mogadishu.

Mark Simmonds: I reiterate the comments of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in condemning this attack against the heart of the UN's operations in Somalia, in which 15 people were killed. My thoughts are with the victims and their families, friends and colleagues. The UN is leading efforts to provide political and practical support to Somalia and the Somali people, including life-saving humanitarian assistance. To murder staff working for the UN is utterly indefensible.
	Britain strongly supports the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and we applaud their efforts, to support Somalia's national security forces and local Somali guards in bringing this incident under control so quickly and with such professionalism. AMISOM's contribution in Somalia is vital. We continue to support them through: UK pre-deployment training; UK contributions to the EU who provide funding for AMISOM troop stipends; UK contributions to the UN who cover AMISOM's logistical support needs; and a bilateral contribution of £16 million in 2012-13 to AMISOM's trust fund. We were pleased to see AMISOM's mandate renewed in the UN Security Council in March and will continue to support their work following this attack.

South East Asia

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with his counterparts in (a) Malaysia and (b) Singapore on the environmental and health risks posed by recent forest fires in the region.

Hugo Swire: I discussed the impact of pollution from fires in Indonesia in my meetings with Ministers in Kuala Lumpur on 26 June and with Singapore's Second Minister for Foreign Affairs the following day.

Sudan and Egypt

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the amount paid out by UK residents to kidnappers in Sudan and Egypt.

Alistair Burt: We are aware of reports of UK residents being asked to pay ransoms following the kidnap of Eritrean nationals but do not have specific details. We are unable to provide an estimate of the amount paid.

Syria

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the Prime Minister's speech of 14 June 2013 at No. 10 Downing street, if he will publish in full the evidential basis for the Prime Minister's statement that the Syrian Government have used chemical weapons against Syrian people.

Alistair Burt: We have physiological samples from inside Syria which have been tested at Porton Down and which have tested positive for sarin. We believe that chemical weapons have been used by the Assad Regime. However, the process of gathering more information is ongoing and we have been working with others to obtain more and better evidence.
	Where we own important evidence or information ourselves, such as the samples received and analysed by UK officials, we have briefed the UN investigation team, shared the information with international partners, and made appropriate details public. We will look at further information and consider whether it is possible to do so again. However, we cannot publish details regarding samples or specific incidents where to do so could put our sources of information at risk.
	The Prime Minister has tasked the chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee to give the National Security Council frequently updated assessments of the information we and our allies have.

Syria

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of discussions on Syria at the recent G8 Conference, in Northern Ireland.

Alistair Burt: The Prime Minister gave a statement on the G8 summit to the House of Commons on 19 June 2013, where he set out the key points agreed on the crisis in Syria, including:
	the importance of a political solution based on a vision for a united, inclusive and democratic country;
	the urgent need for additional humanitarian relief, in response to the UN appeal, to which the G8 collectively allocated $ 1.5 billion;
	the expulsion or eradication of terrorist groups and their supporters in the country;
	the holding to account those responsible for the use of chemical weapons; and
	assistance for UN efforts in the transition phase of a post-conflict Syria.

Turkey

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan on the Turkish Government's response to the protests in Gezi Park, Taksim Square and elsewhere; and what assessment he has made of whether that Government's response is in accordance with Turkey's human rights commitments under international law.

David Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, discussed the protests with Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish Foreign Minister on 11 June as part of a broader discussion and encouraged a peaceful resolution. I made the same points to the Turkish EU Affairs Minister, Egemen Bagis on 13 June.
	It is important the police act proportionately in response to the protests. The Turkish authorities have accepted that some police tactics have been heavy handed. The right to peaceful protest and freedom of assembly are fundamental human rights, and we urge Turkey to respond proportionately to all expressions of protest in line with its ECMR obligations and other international human rights commitments.

Western Sahara

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with (a) the Moroccan ambassador and (b) MINURSO the beating of Mariam Burhimi and Lamat Zeghman while covering a peaceful street protest in occupied El Aaiún, Western Sahara.

Alistair Burt: We follow events in Western Sahara closely. We raise human rights issues relating to Western Sahara regularly with the Moroccan authorities, including at senior level in Rabat and during the embassy's regular visits to Western Sahara itself.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Business: ICT

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what help his Department is providing to small businesses to receive training in IT skills.

Michael Fallon: The information economy strategy, published on 14 June 2013, contains a number of actions to improve digital skills. Following work by the Department, industry will launch this autumn a programme to help provide small businesses with the skills to successfully transact online. The programme aims to reach 1.6 million businesses over the next five years.

Business: Loans

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on what days and at which locations roadshows on the Business Bank programme for prospective applicants have been (a) held to date and (b) scheduled for future dates; and how many such roadshows have been attended by Ministers.

Michael Fallon: Roadshows for the Business Bank’s £300 million investment programme were held in London, Edinburgh and Manchester on 26 April, 2 May and 7 May respectively, following the programme’s launch on 10 April. The purpose of the information sessions was to give prospective applicants the opportunity to ask policy officials detailed questions about the application process. There was therefore no reason for ministerial attendance.
	Further information, slides from the sessions, and questions and answers are available online at:
	https://www.gov.uk/investment-programme-to-encourage-lending-to-smes
	We will consider running other sessions in UK locations if there is sufficient demand.

Comet Group

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has received a report from the Insolvency Service report into Comet.

Jo Swinson: The Insolvency Service's investigation into Comet is still under way. The Insolvency Service aims to complete the vast majority of this type of inquiry within six months, and had hoped to do so in this case too. However, this is a particularly large and complex case involving a company which had a turnover of over £1 billion, and it is important to ensure that the depth and thoroughness of the inquiry is not impeded by imposing time limits.

Community Interest Companies

Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many community interest companies were created in (a) the West Midlands, (b) the East Midlands, (c) London, (d) Wales, (e) South East England, (f) East England, (g) South West England, (h) North East England, (i) North West England, (j) Scotland and (k) Northern Ireland in 2012.

Michael Fallon: Companies House is able to provide figures on the number of new community interest companies it registered in 2012 by post code area. As post code areas cross regional and national boundaries the following figures must be considered approximations. Scotland and Northern Ireland are separate registries, with their own registrars, and the figures for these areas are accurate.
	
		
			 Region Number 
			 West Midlands 228 
			 East Midlands 157 
			 London 278 
			 Wales 65 
			 South East England 308 
			 East England 231 
			 South West England 241 
			 North East England 105 
			 North West England 332 
			 Scotland 98 
			 Northern Ireland 34

Conditions of Employment

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many officials are currently working on his Department’s investigation of zero-hours contracts.

Jo Swinson: A team of three officials within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills are spending part of their time researching how zero-hours contracts are being used by businesses. They are speaking informally to a variety of stakeholders, including industry bodies representing sectors where they are in use and also trade unions to gather information.

Conditions of Employment

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills by what date he expects his Department’s investigation of zero-hours contracts to be complete; and if he will publish any subsequent report.

Jo Swinson: Officials are currently speaking informally to a variety of stakeholders, including trade unions and industry bodies representing sectors where zero-hours contracts to gather information. They will report their findings to me after summer recess.
	We will consider next steps when we better understand the issues for both businesses and people engaged on these contracts.

Conditions of Employment

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he will issue a call for evidence and initiate a consultation process as part of his Department’s investigation into zero-hours contracts; and by what other means organisations and interested parties can submit evidence as part of his Department’s investigation.

Jo Swinson: There are no plans to issue a call for evidence or consultation at this stage. Officials within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) are currently researching how zero-hours contracts are being used by businesses.
	They are currently speaking informally to a variety of stakeholders, including industry bodies representing sectors where they are in use and also trade unions to gather information. If organisations have information they feel is relevant to the work that is currently under way, they should contact the Labour Market Directorate in BIS.

Construction: Industry

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to assist small and medium-sized construction companies.

Michael Fallon: Government have committed to ensure that 25% of all Government procurement should be from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
	Further, Government and the construction industry will launch Construction 2025—an industrial strategy for construction—on Tuesday 2 July. A vibrant SME sector is essential to the future of the construction industry. That industrial strategy will therefore contain a number steps to assist small and medium-sized construction companies.

Digital Technology: Innovation

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage innovation in the field of 3D printing.

Michael Fallon: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham and Rainham (Rehman Chishti) on 13 June 2013, Official Report, columns 437-8W.

Empty Property: Coastal Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the retail vacancy rate was in each of the principal seaside towns in each of the last 30 years.

Michael Fallon: BIS does not hold data on retail vacancy rates.

Enterprise Capital Funds

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to his answer of 7 March 2013, Official Report, column 1184W, on enterprise capital funds, what proportion of funds allocated under enterprise capital funds to date have been drawn down; and how many investments have been drawn down in full.

Michael Fallon: Of the total investor commitment of £396 million across 12 enterprise capital funds, £183 million has been invested in over 150 companies to date. Eight funds have recently reached the end of their investment periods. Four funds are open for new investments. Of the £200 million the Government committed to enterprise capital funds in the spending review 2010, £50 million has been committed to funds, with total investor commitment to those new funds of over £100 million.

Enterprise Zones: Broadband

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions (a) he and (b) officials in his Department have had with the (i) Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and his officials, (ii) Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and his officials and (iii) external stakeholders on the provision of superfast broadband in enterprise zones.

Michael Fallon: BIS officials and I have been involved in discussions about the provision of broadband in enterprise zones with DCLG and DCMS, as part of national progress updates. Officials from BIS Local have also been engaged in conversations with DCLG, DCMS and external stakeholders about provision in specific zones.

Flood Control

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what joint projects his Department has participated in with businesses developing new flood protection technologies in each of the last three years; and in which regions such projects have been conducted.

David Willetts: The Technology Strategy Board, a BIS sponsored body, has supported a number of projects in the area of flood protection and flood-related technologies in the last three years, as follows:
	
		
			 Company Region Grant (£) Project 
			 Vegetable Consultancy Services Ltd East 5,000 Sewage treatment technologies in respect of toxins and contaminants from flood water 
			 Aquobex Ltd South East 5,000 Glass as a flood protection material 
			 Aquobex Ltd South East 135,000 Flood control door 
			 Fluvial Innovations Ltd South West 88,560 Modular flood barrier 
			 Barnard Microsystems Ltd London 24,000 3D terrain generation images for use in, for example, disaster relief (eg flooding) 
		
	
	
		
			 Ambiental Technical Solutions Ltd South East 8,000 Deployment of new technologies (eg cloud piercing satellites, image processing technology, high performance computing and internet-based digital mapping) to improve post-event flood response, and insurance loss estimation 
			 University of Liverpool North West 77,788 Flood risk assessment commercial service underpinned by hydrology data, modelling and robust procedures for case-by-case scenarios 
			 Ambiental Technical Solutions Ltd South East 14,520 Flood risk modelling and dissemination of derived flood risk data products to consumers and businesses in the UK 
			 Cambridge Wireless Ltd London 50,000 Creation of new Smart data services eg severe weather warnings to trigger alerts to vulnerable patient groups 
			 Atlantic Water Co Ltd Scotland 40,518 Water Generator to remove impurities from contaminated water, eg river, swamp or flood water, and make it suitable for drinking 
			 Larkfleet Ltd East Midlands 23,500 Smart flood home, lightweight building system 
			 Southampton City Council South East 50,000 Co-ordination of essential public and private investments in infrastructure which underpin the Future Southampton programme. This encompasses sustainable travel, major city transport schemes, flood risk management, district energy and renewables, waste management, estates regeneration, school and hospitals retrofit, port access and logistics 
			 Leeds and Bradford Councils Yorkshire and Humber 50,000 Co-ordination and integration of systems in ultrafast broadband, healthcare, medical technology, transport, buildings, energy and water services, and flood alleviation and prevention measures

Foreign Workers

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps he has taken to reduce the number of jobs being moved out of the UK.

Michael Fallon: The Government have taken decisive action to protect the economy in this period of global uncertainty.
	The Government consider they can best help increase UK employment by developing the conditions that will ensure balanced, sustainable growth. This involves establishing a dynamic business environment, driven by open and competitive markets. This is at the heart of the Government's Plan for Growth.
	The current employment level is 29.7 million, which is above the pre-recession peak and 434,000 higher than a year earlier.
	In addition, last year there were 1,434 inward investment projects in the UK, which created or safeguarded 94,500 jobs.

Genetically Modified Organisms: Crops

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent meetings officials in his Department have had with outside agencies to discuss the approval of the planting of genetically modified crops.

David Willetts: Officials at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have had no discussions with outside agencies to discuss the approval of the planting of genetically modified crops.

Genetically Modified Organisms: Crops

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with (a) Monsanto, (b) Bayer and (c) BASF on the approval of planting of genetically modified crops.

David Willetts: I have not had meetings specifically to discuss this issue. However, I have many discussions with companies on various issues including GM crops. Policy on granting approval for genetically modified crops is a matter for the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson).

Genetically Modified Organisms: Crops

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with (a) Rothamsted Research, (b) The John Innes Centre and (c) the Institute of Food Research on his policy on granting approval for the planting of genetically modified crops.

David Willetts: I have not had a meeting specifically to discuss this issue. However, I have many discussions with scientists on various issues including GM crops. Policy on granting approval for the planting of genetically modified crops is a matter for the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson).

Green Investment Bank

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what (a) timetable and (b) deadlines have been set for the completion of due diligence processes for funds already committed under the Green Investment Bank.

Michael Fallon: Due diligence on projects is completed before the Green Investment Bank finalises and announces commitments.

Green Investment Bank

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of the funds allocated to each project supported by the Green Investment Bank have been drawn down to date; and when each such project is expected to be fully funded.

Michael Fallon: In financial year 2012/13, the Green Investment Bank (GIB) deployed £121.5 million and has since made further deployments totalling over £50 million. The GIB has published details of the total financial commitments it has made. The specific timing of the draw down of funds is an operational matter for the parties involved in financing individual projects.

Higher Education

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has received in respect of the 11 Confucius Institutes at British universities.

David Willetts: I have not received any representations in respect of the 11 Confucius institutions at British universities.
	Confucius institutions operate within universities, colleges and secondary schools around the world, providing funding, teachers and educational materials. They are non-profit public institutions aligned with the Chinese Government that aim to promote Chinese language and culture, support local Chinese teaching and facilitate cultural exchanges.
	Our relationship with China is important and we continue to broaden and strengthen our ties. More Chinese students are choosing to study here than ever before and more of our schools are teaching Mandarin than ever before.
	At the last UK-China education summit, held in October 2011, UK and Chinese Ministers signed the UK-China Partners in Education Action Plan which has made significant progress in strengthening higher education partnerships and promoting student mobility. In addition, the ministerial level People to People Dialogue in April 2012 highlighted the strength of the UK-China educational and cultural relationship.
	We have more than 150 UK-China university partnerships. More than 100,000 Chinese students come to study at UK schools, colleges and universities. The number of students from mainland China enrolled at UK higher education institutions continues to increase, from 45,000 students in 2007/08 to nearly 79,000 in 2011/12, an increase of 74%. There are around 4,250 UK students studying in China, which is a similar proportion to the number of Chinese students in the UK.

Industrial Health and Safety

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the further round of red tape challenge announced in the 2013 Budget will include health and safety regulations.

Michael Fallon: The 2013 Budget announced that the Government will launch a second phase of red tape challenge. This will be a series of short “red tape” reviews looking at ways to reduce burdens from across the whole regulatory system in areas that are key for the economy and for growth. This includes laws, guidance, compliance, inspection and enforcement issues.
	We are seeking views from businesses about key activities or areas where the regulatory system is particularly burdensome or overly complex to negotiate, and will consider suggestions for reviews across all the policy areas.

Industry

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2013, Official Report, column 207W, on industry, whether he plans to publish a collaborative strategic partnership relating to chemicals.

Michael Fallon: As part of the Government's industrial strategy and our spectrum of support for sectors, the chemicals industry is producing an industry-led strategy. The strategy will be published over the summer. Officials are working closely with the industry.

Industry

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to publish a progress report on implementation of industrial strategy in 2013.

Michael Fallon: The Government, in partnership with the CBI, will hold an industrial strategy conference on 11 September 2013 at which progress developing and implementing industrial strategy will be discussed. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), will provide an update to the House through a written ministerial statement the same day.

Local Enterprise Partnerships: Arts

Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the contribution made by local enterprise partnerships to growth in the creative industries.

Michael Fallon: There has been no estimate of the contribution made by local enterprise partnerships specifically to growth in the creative industries. Local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) have been set up to bring together businesses and local authorities to determine local economic priorities and undertake activities to drive economic growth and the creation of local jobs.
	The Government fully recognise the value of the creative industries. They have a key role in growing our economy and contributing to British culture, and we are determined to work closely with partners to create the best possible environment to support business growth.

Manufacturing Industries: Job Creation

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many manufacturing jobs in (a) each constituency and (b) total have been created in the UK in each of the last five years.

Michael Fallon: The net change in the number of manufacturing jobs for the UK is given in the following table for each of the last five years.
	
		
			 Net change in UK manufacturing jobs on previous year 
			  Net change (Thousand) 
			 2008 -125 
			 2009 -208 
			 2010 -75 
			 2011 3 
			 2012 79 
			 Source: Workforce jobs, ONS 
		
	
	The net change in the number of people employed in the manufacturing industry for each parliamentary constituency in Great Britain for 2010 and 2011 will be placed in the Libraries of the House. Data are not available on a consistent basis for previous years or 2012, or for Northern Ireland in any year.

Medicine

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Health and (b) universities on future plans for departmental responsibility for funding of medical research and education.

David Willetts: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), and I regularly meet with the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), to discuss a range of policy issues including broader discussions on medical research and education.
	Meetings have also been held with Universities UK and the Russell Group to discuss a range of issues including medical research and education.
	In his spending review speech on 26 June 2013 the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), confirmed that:
	“We are not going to shift medical training and research out of that Department (BIS), because they are working well where they are.”

Members: Correspondence

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when his Department plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Newport East of 26 February and 24 May 2013 regarding the regulation of tobacco companies; and whether that correspondence has been forwarded to another Department.

Jo Swinson: The hon. Member's letter of 26 February 2013 was transferred to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs for a reply. An e-mail advising that this action had been taken was sent to the hon. Member's office on 3 April 2013. The hon. Member's office was contacted on receipt of her further letter of 24 May 2013, reminding her that the letter had been transferred to HMRC.

New Businesses

Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many new businesses were started in (a) Warwick, (b) Leamington, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England in each of the last five years.

Michael Fallon: The number of new businesses cannot be identified as there is no central register of businesses.
	However, Companies House is able to provide figures on the number of new companies it registered in each of the last five years by post code area. As post code areas cross city, regional and national boundaries the following figures must be considered approximations.
	
		
			  Warwick Leamington West Midlands England 
			 2008 395 401 28,306 318,270 
			 2009 351 431 27,091 331,210 
			 2010 354 505 29,093 363,824 
			 2011 336 565 32,331 410,595 
			 2012 323 594 34,096 447,196 
		
	
	Companies House has used the following post code areas to extract its information.
	Warwick: CV34
	Leamington: CV31, CV32, CV33
	West Midlands: B, CV, DY, HR, LD, NP, ST, SY, TF, WR, WS, WV.

Overseas Aid

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which projects administered by his Department were UK overseas development assistance (ODA) attributable; what the total value of his Department's contribution to UK ODA was in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012; and what the value of that contribution will be in 2013.

Jo Swinson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has not directly administered any projects that could be regarded as UK overseas development assistance (ODA) attributable. However, the Department does make direct funding to the Medical Research Council (MRC) which is ring-fenced and classed as ODA.
	The MRC reported a global health (ODA) portfolio of research spend in:
	2010/11: £60 million ODA relevant spend inclusive of a £10 million contribution from DFID to this total.
	2011/12 financial year(1): £48 million inclusive of a DFID contribution of £12 million.
	2012 calendar year(1): £47.9 million which includes a £13 million from DFID.
	For 2013, BIS funding to MRC for ODA projects amounts to £31 million.
	In addition, BIS makes annual contributions to both the OECD and WTO on behalf of the UK Government. While not directly classed as ODA, the funding helps contribute to the work of both international organisations in the ongoing promotion of the economic development and welfare of developing countries.
	(1) Reporting was changed from financial to calendar year in 2012.

Postcodes: Databases

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to ensure that privatisation of the Royal Mail does not restrict access to the postcode address file for small entrepreneurs and new business start-ups.

Michael Fallon: The Government have ensured access to the Postcode Address File (PAF) through primary legislation. The Postal Services Act 2000 (as amended by the Postal Services Act 2011) specifies that PAF must be made available to anyone who wishes to use it on reasonable terms. This will apply regardless of ownership of Royal Mail.
	In addition, the Government have been working closely with Royal Mail to ensure that the PAF is easily accessible and continues to support growth. On 14 June 2013 Royal Mail announced a package of measures to improve access, including a forthcoming consultation to simplify radically the licensing regime and to target support for micro-businesses and small charities. From July, independent
	(1)
	micro-businesses will be able to use PAF for free for one year to develop new products and take them to market.
	(1) Not associated or affiliated with any other existing Solution Provider.

Prisoners: Literacy

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to improve literacy and numeracy rates among prison inmates and young offenders.

Matthew Hancock: Improving literacy and numeracy rates among prisoners is an important part of helping them to secure employment on release. Evidence shows that employment is linked to reduced re-offending.
	New prison education contracts for learning and skills for adult offenders in prisons in England were introduced last summer. These have a clear focus on addressing maths and English early in prisoners' sentences, with a requirement on the offender learning and skills provider to assess learning needs and, where a literacy or numeracy need is identified, to address it. English and maths teaching is delivered both as standalone activity and as an embedded element of work and vocational training. We are working with education providers to help them develop engaging and motivating courses to target resistant learners.
	We have piloted intensive maths and English courses in adult prisons, based on the Army's model, particularly to address the needs of prisoners serving short sentences. Prison governors and offender learning and skills providers are now working together to consider whether this provision has a place in the delivery approaches they use locally.
	The learning and skills improvement service published in December 2012 “Developing Speaking and Listening Skills: A support pack for staff working with offenders” which uses English teaching to develop prisoners' communication skills.
	For young offenders in custody under the age of 18, the Ministry of Justice's (MOJ) consultation 'Transforming Youth Custody: Putting education at the heart of detention' published on 14 February 2013, sets out the Government's vision of secure colleges which puts a greater focus on education and training, including improving literacy and numeracy, to equip young people with the skills and qualifications they need to lead purposeful lives on release. The consultation closed on 30 April 2013 and the MOJ will publish a response in due course.

Regional Growth Fund

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Blackpool South of 25 February 2013, Official Report, column 301W, on the Regional Growth Fund, 
	(1)  how independent due diligence will be provided in relation to the exceptional regional growth fund;
	(2)  how independent due diligence will be provided in relation to the exceptional regional growth fund; and how this will differ from due diligence processes for rounds one, two and three of the fund.

Michael Fallon: As with an open round of the Regional Growth Fund (RGF), all exceptional awards are conditional on satisfactory due diligence being performed by an independent third party. Conditional offer letters set out the scope of the due diligence to be performed by the independent third party (normally a firm of accountants). Upon the completion of satisfactory due diligence a final offer letter will be agreed. However, the Industrial Development Advisory Board retains the right to review the outcomes of all due diligence in relation to the use of RGF money, and to provide Ministers with independent advice. There is no difference between due diligence for exceptional RGF and other rounds.

Science: Higher Education

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage students to take up science and engineering degrees at university.

David Willetts: The Government fully recognise the importance of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) based industries to the UK economy, and of maintaining a healthy STEM pipeline. This is why we continue to sponsor a range of initiatives which aim to engage young people in STEM at various points in their educational career, including at degree level. Examples of these initiatives include the STEMNET STEM ambassador programme, the national science and engineering competition and the Big Bang Fair.
	We are also working to increase the number of young people choosing to study these subjects by promoting diversity within STEM. The Government fund the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering to run a programme of work aimed at identifying and removing the barriers to entering STEM through a range of routes, including university.
	We are also supporting higher level study of STEM subjects through the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). Subjects which are identified as strategically important or vulnerable subjects (SIVS) receive additional financial support from HEFCE to help ensure courses can be continued. A range of STEM subjects are currently classed as SIVS.
	In the spending round 2013, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that he would:
	maintain resource funding for science in cash terms at £4.6 billion in 2015-16;
	increase capital funding in real terms from £0.6 billion in 2012-13 to £1.1 billion in 2015-16;
	and set a long-term capital budget for science in the next Parliament growing in line with inflation to 2020-21.

Sick Leave

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many days on average staff of his Department in each pay grade were absent from work as a result of ill health in each of the last 12 months.

Jo Swinson: The following table shows the average working days lost (AWDL) in BIS by grade, during the period 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013. Data are collated quarterly rather than by month and to produce the information in the format requested would result in disproportionate costs.
	
		
			 Grade AWDL 
			 Administrative Assistant 8.1 
			 Administrative Officer 12 
			 Executive Officer 8.8 
			 Higher Executive Officer 4.8 
			 Senior Executive Officer 5.7 
			 Grade 7 3.4 
			 Grade 6 2.4 
			 SCS 4.3 
		
	
	The data form part of the quarterly return to Cabinet Office on absence. Further information is available on the BIS website.
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/transparency/staff

Students

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what the average undergraduate loan was for students who lived (a) at home and (b) away from home in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many undergraduate students lived (a) at home and (b) away from home whilst completing their studies in each of the last five years.

David Willetts: The number of English-domiciled full-time undergraduate students studying in the UK by term-time living arrangements is shown in table 1. The figures are collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
	Statistics on the number of undergraduate students who were paid a maintenance loan by whether they were living with their parents or away from home, and the average amount they received, are shown in table 2. The figures are collected by the Student Loans Company (SLC).
	The HESA statistics refer to students enrolled at higher education institutions. The data from SLC include students at all types of higher education provider designated for student support, which includes further education colleges and alternative providers of higher education.
	
		
			 Table 1: Number of full-time undergraduate enrolments by living arrangements: English-domiciled students at UK higher education institutions, academic years 2007/08 to 2011/12 
			  2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 
			 Students living with parents(1) 196,580 202,995 224,990 228,120 238,330 
			 Students living away from home(2) 587,925 602,480 636,960 658,170 681,935 
			 Other(3) 109,455 113,795 98,010 92,355 90,680 
			 Total 893,955 919,270 959,965 978,645 1,010,945 
			 (1) Students who report term-time accommodation as living with parent(s) or guardian. (2) Students living in own home, other rented accommodation, private-sector halls of residence or in an institution-maintained property. (3) Term-time accommodation is unknown, missing, unspecified or simply the student is not in attendance at the institution during the reported academic year. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Number of students paid maintenance loans by living arrangements(1): English domiciled students, academic years 2007/08 to 2011/12 
			  Number of students paid (thousand)(2) Average paid (£)(3) 
			 Academic year With Parents Living away from home Combined(4) With Parents Living away from home Combined(4) 
			 2007/08 130.5 611.8 3.7 2,580 3,730 3,370 
			 2008/09 131.7 635.8 4.0 2,490 3,740 3,380 
			 2009/10 143.0 672.2 4.2 2,520 3,820 3,410 
			 2010/11 143.5 706.9 4.9 2,530 3,850 3,410 
			 2011/12 151.4 750,1 5.7 2,560 3,900 3,470 
			 (1) Data refer to 31 August following each academic year. (2) Number of students paid rounded to nearest £50 and presented in thousands. (3) Average amount paid rounded to the nearest £10. (4) Students that record multiple living arrangements for the academic year. They live with parents for part of the year and away from home for the remainder of the study year. Source: Student Loans Company

Students: Finance

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of UK students in higher education did not apply for student finance in each of the last 10 years.

David Willetts: Statistics on the financial support awarded and paid to applicants for student support or their higher education institution (HEI) are published by the Student Loans Company in its annual Statistical First Release (SFR) ‘Student Support For Higher Education in England’. The latest SFR was published in November 2012:
	http://www.slc.co.uk/media/525907/slcsfr052012.pdf
	Table 4a (ii) of the SFR provides estimates of the proportion of the maintenance loan eligible population who were paid a maintenance loan during the course of the academic year. The relative proportions that were estimated to be eligible but did not take out a maintenance loan are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Estimated percentage take-up rate/non take-up rate for the eligible maintenance loan population for English domiciled students, academic year 2001/02 to 2010/11 
			 Academic year Estimated percentage take-up (%) Estimated percentage non take-up (%) Estimated eligible population (Thousand) 
			 2001/02 82 18 768 
			 2002/03 82 18 816 
			 2003/04 81 19 840 
		
	
	
		
			 2004/05 79 21 874 
			 2005/06 80 20 898 
			 2006/07 80 20 905 
			 2007/08 80 20 928 
			 2008/09 80 20 963 
			 2009/10 82 18 1,004 
			 2010/11 85 15 1,011 
			 Note: BIS uses data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and other sources with the closest approximation of eligibility criteria available from those sources to produce the estimated eligible population. Estimates are produced with a consistent method each year. Source: Student Loans Company 
		
	
	Eligible populations vary for the different student support products, so an estimate of a combined take-up for student finance is not included in the SFR. The inclusion of an estimated take-up rate for tuition fee loans is planned for the 2013 publication.

Students: Finance

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the likely distributional effect on different quintiles of students of the policy announced in spending round 2013, Cm 8639, page 40, that maintenance grants will be maintained in cash terms in the 2015-16 academic year.

David Willetts: Student Loans Company statistics show that around 40% of students currently receive the maximum maintenance grant and around 15% a partial grant. Therefore, the three lowest quintiles of students by household income will be affected by the decision to keep the grant fixed in cash terms for 2015-16. The total amount of support available to these students will depend on decisions on the maintenance loan which have yet to be made.

Students: Loans

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what external advice the Government have commissioned since May 2010 on the future of the student loan book; when each such piece of advice was commissioned; which firms have provided this advice; when any such reports were passed to Ministers in his Department; what the total cost to the public purse was; and if he will place a copy of each such report in the Library.

David Willetts: In September 2010, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills commissioned Rothschild to analyse potential options for the future of the income contingent repayment (ICR) student loan book. Hogan Lovells was also commissioned in September 2010 and provided legal advice on potential options. Deloitte was commissioned in January 2011 and provided accounting advice. Officials and Ministers in the Department have since continued to explore the feasibility of options for the student loan book (for loans issued up to 2012) as part of the Government's wider programme of asset commercialisation. Rating agencies have also provided advice in relation to potential options. The cost of the feasibility study to date has been £1.46 million.
	This Department has started to prepare for a sale of this loan book, as part of the Government's asset sales programme announced on 27 June 2013.
	As this policy is still in development, the 2011 report contains, and future reports will contain, commercially sensitive information that could damage the value for money Government can achieve from a sale process, and so should not be disclosed at this point.

Students: Loans

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the announcement by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in his oral statement of 27 June 2013, that the Government plan to sell the pre-Browne student loan book, what assessment he has made of the option of altering the terms of loan repayments for those cohorts of graduates.

David Willetts: The Government received proposals in 2011 from their advisers that the cap on interest rates on student loans should be removed as part of a possible sale of the loan book. The proposal was dismissed two years ago and will not be taken forward by this Government.

Students: Loans

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will place in the Library a full and unredacted copy of the document entitled, “Project Hero: updated views on feasibility,” which was prepared for his Department in 2011.

David Willetts: In 2011, Rothschild produced a report to analyse potential options for the future of the income contingent repayment (ICR) student loan book. Following further feasibility work, this Department has now started to prepare for a sale of the pre-Browne loan book, as part of the Government's asset sales programme announced on 27 June 2013.
	As this policy is still in development, the 2011 report contains and future reports will contain commercially sensitive information that could damage the value for money Government can achieve from a sale process, and so should not be disclosed at this point.

Telephone Services: Fees and Charges

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with (a) UK companies and (b) consumer groups about chargeable customer advice telephone numbers.

Jo Swinson: Under the consumer rights directive agreed in December 2011, consumers ringing a trader about something they have purchased must not be charged more than the ‘basic’ rate for that call. Our consultation on the implementation of the directive, which ran from August to November last year, invited comments from a wide variety of organisations. We have engaged with stakeholders, including UK companies, and consumer groups, to ensure that our implementation of the basic rate requirement is as clear and fair as possible. We will shortly be publishing the Government response together with draft regulations, and will be welcoming comments.

Thameslink Railway Line

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the Government's decision to award train manufacturing in the Thameslink contract, what assistance his Department provided to British-based manufacturers to ensure that bids relating to the contract relating to the building of trains in the UK were competitive.

Michael Fallon: The competition to supply trains and maintenance services for the Thameslink programme was designed and launched in 2008 by the previous Government and the procurement process followed strict EU procurement rules. The criteria set out in the original invitation to tender issued by the Department for Transport required all potential suppliers to be treated equally and in a non-discriminatory manner. Therefore no such assistance was provided.

Thameslink Railway Line

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the Government's decision to award train manufacturing in the Thameslink contract, for what reason his Department did not insist as part of the contract agreement with Siemens, that the company manufacture all, or a significant proportion of the contract value at its facility on Tyneside; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: The competition to supply trains and maintenance services for the Thameslink programme was designed and launched in 2008 by the previous Government. Under EU procurement rules, the Department for Transport (DfT) was not permitted to include a condition requiring Siemens to utilise its Tyneside manufacturing facility to carry out all or part of the contract.
	Siemens successfully applied for funding under round 3 of the regional growth fund to transform Hebburn into a site specialising in rail, and will supply components for Thameslink and other contracts. This will protect and create up to 300 jobs in the north-east.

Training: Young People

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which initiatives undertaken by his Department for the purpose of economic recovery include skills learning for young people.

Matthew Hancock: Skills are an important driver of balanced and sustainable growth, and are central to delivering the ambitions of the Government. Further education (FE) and skills equip adults with the knowledge and skills necessary to help them succeed and thrive, and enable employers to build the work forces they need to grow in a global and competitive marketplace.
	Apprenticeships are at the heart of our drive to equip people of all ages with the skills employers need to prosper and compete, often in a global market. Our priority is to expand apprenticeships where these deliver greatest benefits, including for younger people (16 to 24), to reflect sector skills needs and opportunities, and where there is progression to advanced and higher levels.
	Our recently announced traineeships programme will help young people aged 16 to 24 who need extra support to compete for apprenticeships and other jobs, by offering them work experience, employability skills and remedial English and maths provision.

USA: EU External Trade

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the carbon footprint created by the expected greater trade between the US and the EU as a result of the agreement made at the G8 meeting at Lough Erne; and if the Government will conduct an environmental impact assessment of that agreement.

Michael Fallon: The March 2013 study by the European Commission (EC) estimates a minimal impact of carbon emissions arising from the EU-US free trade agreement—an increase of 0.02% to 0.07% in carbon emission levels for the world.
	The UK study does not model the impact of carbon emissions explicitly, but we will continue to keep this under review.

EDUCATION

Arts: Curriculum

Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, (b) teachers and teachers' organisations and (c) arts and cultural organisations on arts and creativity in the curriculum.

Elizabeth Truss: On 5 June 2013, the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), chaired a round table discussion on arts education with head teachers and representatives from a variety of arts and cultural organisations. This was attended by the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, my hon. Friend the Member for Wantage (Mr Vaizey).
	In addition, I recently chaired a Cultural Education Group meeting with my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Wantage (Mr Vaizey) on 21 May, 2013. The group's members include cultural education providers who are delivering Department for Education-funded cultural education programmes; head teachers; and Darren Henley, managing director of Classic FM.

Children: Arts

Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of (a) primary school and (b) secondary school children have visited (i) an art gallery, (ii) a museum, (iii) a theatre, (iv) a dance and (v) a musical performance by the time they have left school.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education does not collect this information.
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) produces the ‘Taking Part’ survey which provides statistics on how many five to 15-year-olds have engaged with cultural activities. The report is available on the DCMS website(1).
	(1)https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/taking-part-october-2011-to-september-2012-supplementary-child-report—2

Correspondence

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many times a Minister from his Department has written to all (a) primary head teachers, (b) secondary head teachers and (c) local education authorities since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Elizabeth Truss: This Government decided to make e-mail communication the default method for communicating with schools. The Department for Education manages, via a central team, all ministerial electronic communications sent to all schools and local authorities. Only the central team can request an e-mail be sent to all schools. One e-mail bulletin is sent to each school per school term, with exceptional bulletins sent as and when required. Some correspondence will have been sent directly to schools outside this default route and in such cases no central records are held. The Department has taken steps to reduce the volume of communications and guidance issued to schools since 2010, reducing the volume of guidance sent to schools by 94% between May and December 2010.
	The following table shows the number of electronic communications sent, by year, to all schools and local authorities.
	
		
			  2010 (May onwards) 2011 2012 2013 (to date) 
			 All primary 6 6 4 4 
			 All secondary 6 6 6 4 
			 Local authority (1)— 21 34 16 
			 (1) Unknown

Education: Disadvantaged

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to improve the educational attainment of children in receipt of free school meals in (a) Peterborough constituency and (b) England; and if he will make a statement.

David Laws: There is a strong link at every key stage between attainment and free school meal (FSM) entitlement: the evidence overwhelmingly suggests that the attainment of pupils eligible for FSM is generally lower than that of their peers. It is unacceptable that children's achievement at school and success in life should be constrained by economic disadvantage.
	This is why in April 2011 we introduced the pupil premium, which is additional funding for schools in England to raise the attainment of their disadvantaged pupils. These are either pupils who have been registered for free school meals at any point in the past six years, or children in care who have been looked after by a local authority continuously for more than six months. The grant is worth £900 per pupil for 2013-14, and the total pupil premium will amount to £2.5 billion in 2014-15. Schools in Peterborough local authority received £5,350,000 of pupil premium funding in 2012-13.
	The Education Endowment Foundation also administers £125 million on behalf of the Department to fund research into innovative approaches to raising attainment. Since the pupil premium was introduced, the attainment of disadvantaged pupils has improved. Results for 2012, the first year to reflect the impact of a full year of pupil premium, showed a larger than expected narrowing of attainment gaps nationally for both key stage 2 and key stage 4.

Languages: Education

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of children were taught a modern foreign language in (a) year 2, (b) year 6, (c) year 9 and (d) year 11 in maintained schools in England in the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Elizabeth Truss: The requested information is not held by the Department. The information on the percentage of pupils that attempted a modern foreign language GCSE at the end of key stage 4 (year 11) is available from our statistical first release ‘Revised GCSE and equivalent results in England: academic year 2011 to 2012’(1), ‘Additional tables 1: SFR02/2013’ link, table 10a. There may be other pupils being taught a language in year 11 who have not been entered for a GCSE.
	(1)https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/revised-gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-academic-year-2011-to-2012

Ministers' Private Offices

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of his private ministerial office staff are (a) male and (b) female.

Elizabeth Truss: There are currently seven female employees and one male employee in the ministerial private office of the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove).

National Curriculum Tests

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how many schools appealed against the refusal to be entered for the Level 6 SAT papers and were subsequently granted entry through appeal with the Standards and Testing Agency in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013;
	(2)  how many schools appealed against refusal to be entered by the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency for the Level 6 SAT papers in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010;
	(3)  how many schools appealed against refusal to be entered by the Standards and Testing Agency for the Level 6 SAT papers in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013;
	(4)  how many (a) schools and (b) pupils were refused entry by the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency for the Level 6 SAT papers in (i) 2009 and (ii) 2010;
	(5)  how many (a) schools and (b) pupils were refused entry by the Standards and Testing Agency for the Level 6 SAT papers in (i) 2011, (ii) 2012 and (iii) 2013;
	(6)  how many (a) schools and (b) pupils were entered for the Level 6 SAT papers with the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency in (i) 2009 and (ii) 2010;
	(7)  how many (a) schools and (b) pupils were entered for the Level 6 SAT papers with the Standards and Testing Agency in (i) 2011, (ii) 2012 and (iii) 2013;
	(8)  how many schools appealed against the refusal to be entered for the Level 6 SAT papers and were subsequently granted entry through appeal with the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010.

Elizabeth Truss: Level 6 tests at key stage 2 (KS2) were first introduced in 2012 and, therefore, there are no figures relating to the period 2009-11 under either the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency or the Standards and Testing Agency (STA).
	In the first year of the Level 6 tests, 2012, schools were permitted to enter pupils up to and including the day of the tests. There were no instances of refusals of entry or, therefore, related appeals.
	In 2013, schools were required to register pupils for the Level 6 tests no later than the deadline of 22 March; in line with the statutory obligations set out in the KS2 assessment and reporting arrangements. This deadline was introduced as the previous year's arrangements—which enabled schools to register pupils up to and including the day of the tests—caused disruption and significant risks to the delivery of KS2 tests.
	All schools that registered by the deadline were permitted. Schools with exceptional circumstances including local IT issues—highlighted to the STA prior to the deadline—and serious tragedies in their schools were permitted late registrations. A total of 28 schools were allowed such late registrations, with a total of 110 pupils. A further 59 pupils from 54 schools that arrived at their school post-deadline were permitted late registration.
	There is no formal appeals process but a total of 240 complaints were received in relation to requests for registration of pupils post-deadline. This figure does not relate to unique schools as repeat complaints were in some cases received for a school through several different channels. No pupil level data were captured or supplied by these schools and therefore it is not possible to determine the number of individual pupils who may have been affected.
	The total numbers of pupil and school registrations for 2012 and 2013 for KS2 Level 6 tests are detailed in the following table.(1)
	
		
			  Mathematics English reading English grammar, punctuation and spelling 
			  2012 2013 2012 2013 2012 2013 
			 Pupil registrations 55,809 80,925 47,148 73,118 n/a 61,883 
			 School registrations 8,130 11,369 6,469 9,605 n/a 7,870 
			 (1 )2013 is the first year in which the English grammar, punctuation and spelling test has been administered.

National Curriculum Tests

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education under what curriculum 
	(1)  students ending key stage 2 in 2015 will be (a) taught and (b) assessed.
	(2)  students ending key stage 2 in 2016 will be (a) taught and (b) assessed.

Elizabeth Truss: The existing national curriculum will continue to be the basis for statutory end of key stage 2 assessments in summer 2015.
	Key stage 2 statutory assessments under the new national curriculum will take place in summer 2016 and in subsequent years.
	Decisions on the phasing in of the new national curriculum will be announced in the Government's response to the national curriculum consultation which will be published shortly.

Official Cars

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy to log the number of journeys undertaken by each Minister in his Department using the ministerial car pool.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department has no plans to log and collate this information.
	This Government have significantly reduced the cost to the taxpayer of Government cars compared with the cost before the last general election.
	For details of how much the Department has spent on the Government Car Service, I refer the hon. Member to the information published in the annual written ministerial statement, which can be found in the House Library. Statements for 2009/10 to 2011/12 can be found on the Parliament website(1, 2, 3).
	Details of the cost of the Government Car Service for 2012/13 will be published in the normal way later this year.
	(1) 2009/10:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101028/wmstext/101028m0001.htm#10102827000372
	(2) 2010/11:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201212/cmhansrd/cm120116/wmstext/120116m0001.htm#12011611000194
	(3) 2011/12:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121220/wmstext/121220m0001.htm#12122056000216

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the average per student funding was of primary schools of (a) fewer than 50, (b) from 50 to 99, (c) from 100 to 199, (d) from 200 to 299, (e) from 300 to 399 and (f) more than 400 pupils in (i) rural and (ii) non-rural areas in the latest year for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

David Laws: Average per pupil funding figures for primary schools in the requested classification for the 2012-13 financial year are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Primary average funding per pupil 
			 (£) 
			 School size Rural Non-rural 
			 Below 50 6,910 7,175 
			 50 to 99 4,685 5,165 
			 100 to 199 3,902 4,389 
			 200 to 299 3,574 4,118 
			 300 to 399 3,426 3,975 
			 400 and over 3,395 4,027 
		
	
	Per pupil figures were derived from 2012-13 S251 school budget shares(1) and January 2012 school census data(2) matched across to the urban/rural indicator from the 2011/12 school capacity data(3).
	The per pupil figures for smaller schools are generally higher as a greater proportion of their funding will come from lump sum factors in local authorities' funding formulae. The non-rural figures are in part higher due to greater levels of deprivation funding in more urban local authorities.
	(1)http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/adminandfinance/financialmanagement/schoolsrevenuefunding/section251/a00214232/s251-budget-2012-13-data
	(2)( )https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2012
	(3 )https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-capacity-academic-year-2011-to-2012

Schools: Vocational Guidance

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much was spent by his Department on school based careers advice services in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2010-11, (d) 2009-10 and (e) 2008-09.

Matthew Hancock: In September 2012, schools assumed legal responsibility for securing independent careers guidance for their pupils. Schools meet the costs of careers guidance from their overall budgets. Information on the amount spent by schools on careers guidance is not collected centrally.